IDEF 2023: FNSS unveils Shadow Rider unmanned ground vehicle family.

At IDEF 2023, FNSS is showcasing its Shadow Rider UGV, a family of modular autonomous unmanned ground vehicles. The Shadow Rider FoV (Family of Vehicles) comes equipped with an artificial-intelligence-supported autonomy kit, decision support systems, sensor suite, and positional and situational awareness systems, potentially serving as a force multiplier for full-spectrum missions.
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FNSS Shadow Rider unmanned ground vehicles family (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The general specifications of the Shadow Rider include a combat weight of 13,500 kg, dimensions of under 5.5 meters in length, less than 3 meters in width, and a hull roof height of under 2 meters. The vehicle can be air-transported by A400M and C-130 aircraft. Powered by a diesel engine, it features a fully automatic transmission with four forward gears and one reverse gear, capable of reaching a maximum road speed of over 50 km/h. The UGV's mobility allows it to handle gradients of up to 60%, side slopes of 30%, vertical obstacles of 0.6 meters, and trenches up to 1.6 meters wide.

In terms of armament, the Shadow Rider utilizes remote-controlled turrets and missiles, offering integration options for systems from various types and origins. This adaptability allows it to be customized for specific missions, such as reconnaissance and surveillance, mine clearing, obstacle removal, tactical deception, and fire support. Its autonomy and remote control features include RF and LTE communication, antijam GNSS, waypoint navigation, and patrol capabilities. The UGV is also equipped with obstacle detection and avoidance capabilities, enhancing its safety during operations.

The Shadow Rider's versatility stems from its modular design, making it suitable for various roles such as Command Vehicle, Fire Support Vehicle, Tactical Decoy Vehicle, Engineering Reconnaissance Vehicle, Logistics Support Vehicle, and more. With an open architecture design, the UGV can easily integrate various payloads to suit specific tasks, with a payload capacity of 4,500 kg.

Furthermore, the Shadow Rider family includes several variants designed for specific roles and purposes, such as fire support and surveillance with 25mm RCT, Fire Support and Surveillance with 12.7mm RWS, rotary wing drone UGV, loitering munition multi-canister launcher UGV, reconnaissance and surveillance UGV, mine clearing UGV, obstacle clearing UGV, route proving roller, and surface laid mine clearance UGV.

One of the key features of the Shadow Rider is its autonomous driving capabilities, with modes like patrol, track, and return to base. Enabled with leader-follower capabilities, the UGV can autonomously drive even in GPS/GNSS-denied areas, promoting coordinated movements among multiple vehicles.