Army develops unmanned ground vehicle for mine detection, reconnaissance and surveillance | Pune News – The Times of India

Pune: With modern warfare rapidly evolving into a landscape defined by unmanned systems and high-tech sensors, the Indian Army’s new “Sapperscout 2.0” comes as a timely addition to its arsenal. This indigenously developed Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) is specifically designed to handle three of the most dangerous tasks in land operations — mine detection, reconnaissance and surveillance. By automating these high-risk roles, the platform offers a significant leap in both operational efficiency and soldier safety.Major Rajprasad RS of the Corps of Engineers (7 Engineer Regiment) led the development of this home-grown technology, ensuring it meets the specific demands of the Indian military. The vehicle was recently featured at the “JAI se VIJAY” seminar in Pune, an event hosted by the Headquarters Southern Command to showcase cutting-edge defense innovations. Designed as a multi-utility, all-terrain unmanned platform, the UGV addresses one of the Indian Army’s enduring challenges —detecting and neutralising mines and improvised explosive threats without exposing soldiers to danger.Equipped for mine detection and route clearance roles, the UGV allows engineer units to conduct forward mine reconnaissance remotely, especially in contested and hostile environments.“Reconnaissance and surveillance remain central to dominance in modern conflicts, particularly in high-altitude regions, deserts and border areas where terrain and visibility pose unique challenges. The vehicle is equipped with environmental sensing and obstacle detection systems, enabling it to operate ahead of advancing troops and mechanised columns,” Major Rajprasad told TOI. With its ability to conduct persistent ground-level surveillance, the UGV enhances situational awareness by relaying real-time data from forward areas. This capability is crucial for identifying enemy movement, monitoring vulnerable flanks and securing routes in both conventional and sub-conventional operations.Military planners view the Sapperscout 2.0 as a vital asset for Manned–Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T), a doctrine that integrates unmanned platforms with infantry and mechanised forces.“By deploying the UGV ahead of troops, commanders can gather actionable intelligence while minimising casualties during initial contact, ambush detection or minefield identification,” said the officer.In addition to surveillance roles, the platform can be configured for payload carriage, casualty evacuation, and integration of mission-specific modules, making it adaptable across operational scenarios. Its modular architecture also allows for future integration of weapon systems or counter-drone payloads, expanding its battlefield utility.Sapperscout 2.0 is the 12th innovation developed by Major Rajprasad, with four of his earlier systems already inducted into the Indian Army. Officials indicated that the UGV is expected to follow a similar trajectory, moving from demonstration to operational absorption in the near future.“This is a special internal project and further modification as per the operational requirements will be made in subsequent stages. At this juncture, what was crucial for us was to develop our inhouse product. So the basic Research and Development has been done successfully. Several trials will be done in different conditions before its official induction and mass manufacturing,” said Major Rajprasad.During the seminar, chief of defence staff Gen Anil Chauhan and GOC-in-C Southern Command Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth emphasised the importance of indigenous innovation in strengthening operational preparedness and achieving the national vision of Aatmanirbharta in defence.As threats evolve and the demand for unmanned reconnaissance and mine warfare solutions grows, systems like Sapperscout 2.0 underscore a decisive shift in the Indian Army’s approach—leveraging home-grown technology to protect soldiers while enhancing battlefield dominance. Also, it gives confidence to field troops to handle our own in house system. It can be tweaked as per the field requirements unlike imported systems that are supposed to be handled and operate in a particular way only, ” said a senior army officer from the Corps of Engineers.