During MSPO 2022, the Auto Podlasie company with the Military Institute of Armored and Automotive Technology (WITPiS) and the companies Stekop and AP Solutions presented a duo of vehicles that can cooperate on the battlefield. The outdoor exhibition space featured the optional Taero manned light aeromobile and Recon light armored vehicle. The duo is complemented by the well-known Aero vehicle with landing gear, which is currently used by the 6th Airborne Brigade named after Brigadier General Stanisław Sosabowski.
The Armaments Inspectorate ordered 55 Milpo vehicles and 105 special trailers (each vehicle can tow one or two) along with a logistics and training package in 2018. The first copies were delivered to the 6th Brigade in January 2020, and the opinions of the military were probably key to the construction of the unmanned successor.
-ADVERTISEMENT-
Unmanned TAERO
Based on the Aero vehicle (which in turn was constructed on the basis of the Toyota Land Cruiser), the Taero unmanned aerial vehicle – presented at MSPO in a box variant as a logistic vehicle – is closely related to the Recon, which serves as a mobile control and control station. The name Taero is a conglomerate of the words Tarvos (Stekop unmanned vehicle project) and Aero.
Aero with a trailer and other equipment, including a bicycle.
(Andrzej Pawłowski, conflict.pl)
Taero has a curb weight of 2,800 kilograms, the load capacity is up to one ton. It is equipped with a hybrid drive consisting of a diesel engine with a capacity of 130 horsepower and an electric engine with a capacity of 50 kilowatts. As a result, theoretically, it can travel at a maximum speed of 100 kilometers per hour, but only on a paved road and operated by the driver. With a full tank of fuel, it can travel about 400 kilometers when it uses an internal combustion engine.
The electric motor only covers 30 kilometers. However, it is not intended to be used when traveling long distances. Thanks to its silent operation, it will be used to stealthily move in the immediate vicinity of the enemy’s position and conduct reconnaissance under their noses.
Optional unmanned Taero.
(Maciej Hypś, Konflikty.pl)
The vehicle can be dropped from the plane or the sling of a helicopter. It can operate in manned and autonomous modes. The functioning of the latter, taken from the Tarvos (and to a lesser extent from the Perun unmanned land vehicle), is carried out by a central control system, which includes devices installed in the passenger seat. There may be a lightweight portable panel with a fairly modest range. If this parameter were to be increased to 5-20 kilometers (depending on the topography), then the system – serving as a retransmission point – would have to be installed on another vehicle. The car is equipped with a GPS navigation system and a day-night omnidirectional observation system.
In addition to typical reconnaissance functions, the vehicle can be a useful tool for transporting the wounded from the battlefield to a field hospital or equipment and weapons for combatants, a weapon carrier (remotely controlled shooting position, ATGM, circulating ammunition). As a logistics vehicle, it can travel short distances between two points. In the variant of the reconnaissance vehicle, it is equipped with an optoelectronic head, and thanks to the electric motor it has a reduced heat signature, which makes detection difficult.
In autonomous mode, Taero can navigate a pre-planned route, recreate the route previously covered by the driver or operate in follow-me mode, in which it will follow a manned vehicle or a walker. As an evacuation vehicle for the injured, it can tow a maximum of two special trailers, on which injured soldiers will be placed.
Polish premiere of Recona
Contrary to the Aero, the Recon light armored reconnaissance vehicle with four-wheel drive was presented to the public in Poland for the first time. Recon had its European premiere in May in Romania during the BSDA exhibition, where it was exhibited by the Czech company GLOMEX Military Supplies. In Kielce, it was shown as a variant of the mobile driving position for Taero with a place for the operator in front of the driver. However, there are more possibilities. The manufacturer ensures that the interior can be reconfigured in such a way that it can accommodate two operators for two Taero vehicles or one vehicle in the weapon carrier variant (then one operator is responsible for weapons control).
The Recon is equipped with run-flat tires.
(Andrzej Pawłowski, Konflikty.pl)
In addition, the Recon can also be equipped with a lightly armored shooting position, which can be armed with a machine gun up to 12.7 millimeters or an automatic grenade launcher with a caliber of 40 millimeters. There is also an option to mount anti-tank grenade launchers.
The curb weight of the vehicle will depend on its intended use, but is to be within the range of 3.2–3.3 tonnes, and the permissible total weight is to be 4 tonnes. This gives a load capacity of 700–800 kilograms, which will allow for the transport of equipment or assembly of a system. The vehicle crew can be up to four soldiers. It is powered by a 4.2 liter 170 HP diesel engine, but you can replace it with a more powerful 4.5 liter 205 HP power unit.
Recon interior.
(Andrzej Pawłowski, Konflikty.pl)
The vehicle is armored and the windows have bulletproof windows. This design provides protection against small arms at level I according to the NATO standard STANAG 4569A and against artillery fragments and mines at level I according to STANAG 4569B. Additional armor plates protect the fuel tank and radiator.
Recon has not yet received orders, but it is a proposal aimed at aeromobile formations and is intended to operate in various climatic and terrain conditions. So if the manufacturer receives an order, the buyer will probably be aeromobile units. The vehicle is also offered to soldiers of regular armed forces, territorial defense forces, special forces or other armed formations as a patrol and reconnaissance platform.
See also: MSPO: Large order for AWR – artillery eyes and ears
Andrzej Pawłowski, conflict.pl
