A Finnish company, NDR-Industries, has developed hybrid remotely controlled land and air specialised vehicles that operate in demanding terrains. They are already seeing demand from the global defence and rescue sector partners in many countries.
That great innovations come in small steps is illustrated by the founder of NDR-Industries (NDR), a Finnish company with wide international networks, who has developed a handful of remotely controlled caterpillar tread vehicles that are meant to operate in war zones or in areas of natural catastrophes. Naturally, the basic vehicles are not innovations, but their development has led to significant innovations. It is not surprising that these founders came up with innovations that are now patented.
The founders have solid professional military backgrounds in surveillance and defence logistics from Finland and from overseas commands. They have put this experience to good use with a broad network of contacts in these sectors that have awoken great interests from buyers inside and outside the Nordics.
When attending a trade fair last year populated by big defence manufacturers one of them asked the founders if these vehicles could autonomously transport the severely wounded or the dead from the front lines without sending in a medical team or driver into danger zones.
It took just a few months for innovative solutions to be designed and ready for action! The wounded can now roll onto a stretcher that can use a mechanical arm that put his body into a capsule that is secure from attack by small arms while being transported quickly and safely to the medical team. This vehicle is called the Havoc S-300 Gen3 and has a carrying capacity of over 800kg (1.6 tons with rear cabin attached. Twin cabin design is run by total of three electric motor, back-up by two engines each providing 200HP located in the front in the single electric motor providing somewhat 300 HP, totalling up to 700 HP and a hybrid power unit that can run up to 2-4 hours in electricity alone or up to 14- 16 hours by both electricity and diesel, depending on the mode of use. It can operate with CASEVAC capsules as stand-alone units, that feature lighting and comprehensive ventilation and climate control systems tailored to prevailing weather conditions. Depending on operational requirements, the capsules can be customized to accommodate various equipment, including ballistic-resistant materials up to a B-7[1] level and/or a system designed to minimize patient movement during transport. These advanced capsules provide enhanced comfort for the individual being transported, especially on uneven terrain or when it is crucial to limit their movement.
Photo Havoc S-300 Gen.3.0
Havoc XS-50 is the smallest and most agile member of the Havoc series, weighing approximately 50kg with a 4-hour battery pack. Its compact design allows durability for indoor and outdoor tasks where its wide tracks can be used for fast navigation through mud, snow, or soft sand at speeds up to 70 km/h for loads of up to 50-60kg.
It is designed for versatile use in the field as can be seen in this photograph where its military performance excels as an agile and fast vehicle for demanding conditions:
Photo: Havoc XS-5
The M-750 is a medium-sized UGV designed like the Havoc XS-50 to support tactical surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It is designed as a multi-purpose platform, for different engine trains – fully electric, hybrid, , or diesel – thus allowing users to choose the most suitable without the need for compromises. It can operate on land and water, extending its function further than any other machine of its type or size made by other manufacturers. The M-750 is built to withstand known small-calibre firearms (7.62 FMJ), providing cover and protection against unforeseen aggressors and operational situations.
Photo: Havoc M-750
Coming close to final manufacture is a newly designed Havoc Air-300, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed to provide rapid response capabilities and support in environments that are inhospitable for humans. It has a lifting capacity of up to 1,000kg that uses quick-release equipment rack systems. With an airspeed of 390km/h, it is one of the fastest UAV helicopters currently on the market. It is designed to closely interact with the S-300 Gen3 and M-750 UGV’s that connect these air and ground assets in a joint platform in different conditions and with other platforms.
The founders are confident that the above rather unique solutions, together with new planned vehicle additions and improvements will result in increased defence capabilities, better surveillance, and fewer deaths from military engagements and other catastrophic events.
[1] B7 protection is the strongest level of protection used to stop armour-piercing bullets from high-velocity rifles including sniper rifles.
