Forging the Future Battlefield: Manned-Unmanned Teaming and the Rise of Integrated Sense-and-Strike Operations

In the increasingly complex battlespace of the modern theatre of operations, the imperative is clear: win the information fight, strike decisively, and survive to do it again tomorrow.

The modern battlefield is a contested environment – congested, connected and constantly monitored. In this environment, manned and unmanned teaming (MUMT) and integrated “sense-and-strike” capabilities are emerging as the cornerstone of the digitised land warfare strategy.

This evolution is not merely a shift in hardware, but in how armed forces conceive of, and prosecute operations. The trend is toward a layered, synergistic architecture where crewed and uncrewed systems operate as a single combat entity. These force packages combine traditional firepower with emerging technologies to deliver increased survivability, heightened efficiency, and enhanced lethality – all while reducing physical and cognitive burden on the human operator.

MUMT: Enabling Decision Dominance

At its core, MUMT is about compressing the OODA loop – Observe, Orient, Decide, Act – to achieve decision dominance. Through persistent surveillance, networked sensors, and autonomous capabilities, MUMT enables operators to see first, decide first, and strike first. By coupling manned assets with unmanned ground and aerial systems, the force multiplies its reach, resilience, and responsiveness across the full spectrum of operations.

Key to realising this vision is plug-and-play digital architecture and advanced driver assistance capability, both now maturing into deployable form. Vehicles such as the TERREX s5 and RHINO-HED are designed from the outset to support modular sensors, data-driven decision aids, and integrated control of multiple unmanned systems – making them inherently MUMT-ready.

The Shape of MUMT on Land

On the battlefield, the value of MUMT lies in the seamless integration of sensors, effectors and platforms. In this model, manned assets no longer operate in isolation; instead, they work in tandem with autonomous or remotely piloted systems, often forming adaptive combat teams capable of scouting, striking and sustaining operations independently.

Take the role of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) such as TAURUS. Fully electric and modular in design, this next-generation logistics and support platform offers disaster relief units an unprecedented degree of flexibility. With autonomous capability, regenerative charging, and the ability to export power to other battlefield systems, TAURUS can function as both mule and mobile generator – a crucial element in prolonged, dispersed operations where forward power is at a premium.

Yet UGVs are only one component in this broader concept of operations. The real potential lies in pairing these assets with crewed vehicles and strike systems that are digitally fused and networked for real-time coordination.

From Sense to Strike: Executing the Kill Chain

The contemporary battlespace rewards those who can move rapidly through the find-fix-finish cycle. This is where sense-and-strike capabilities, underpinned by digital integration, become gamechangers. Mortar systems such as the Ground Deployed Advanced Mortar System (GDAMS) epitomise this transformation. GDAMS brings together rapid deployment, vehicle-agnostic integration, and digital fire-control capabilities in a two-person crew configuration. It can deploy and stow in 15 seconds respectively, deliver precision-guided 81mm or 120mm rounds, and receive digital targeting data from higher command or local sensors – drastically compressing the sensor-to-platform capable of delivering effects timeline.

At the heart of GDAMS lies a patented blast diffuser that reduces blast pressure and enhances crew survivability – a feature particularly valuable in high-threat environments. When paired with UAVs or forward reconnaissance UGVs like TAURUS, the GDAMS provides an instantly responsive indirect fire option to neutralise identified threats before they escalate.

Further up the scale, the Bronco, an all-terrain tracked carrier which is battle-proven in its Warthog variant, serves as a robust and flexible platform for mounted manoeuvre and direct fire missions. Its open architecture design enables rapid adaptation with modular payloads – including integration of the Super Rapid Advanced Mortar System Mark II (SRAMS MkII) 120mm mortar or counter-UAS systems. With high mobility across terrain and a payload capacity that surpasses others in its class, the Bronco is ideally suited to complex missions where agility and adaptability are paramount.

When fitted with the SRAMS MkII, Bronco becomes a potent strike platform. SRAMS MkII offers a high rate of fire, low recoil, and Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) capability. Importantly, it can be operated under cover via an integrated Battle Management System (iBMS), allowing coordinated and protected fires even in degraded conditions.

Countering the Aerial Threat

As small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) proliferate among state and non-state actors alike, counter-UAS capability has become essential. Here again, the modularity and digital backbone of ST Engineering Land Systems’ platforms provide an advantage.

Bronco, for instance, can host a scalable C-UAS suite combining soft-kill options such as jamming and spoofing, with hard-kill solutions including kinetic interceptors or directed energy. This layered defence enables mounted manoeuvre elements to self-protect while on the move.

Similarly, systems like the Adder Remote Weapon Station (RWS) can be upgraded with a dedicated C-UAS module. By retaining core kinetic functions and enhancing them with autonomous detection and tracking, the Adder RWS becomes a dual-role solution – effective against both ground threats and low-altitude drones. Crucially, all engagement is conducted via a unified interface, giving gunners rapid control and reducing cognitive overload in high-stress environments.

RHINO-HED: Powering the Tactical Edge

Modern militaries must increasingly balance tactical capability with operational sustainability. Enter the RHINO-HED, a next-generation protected vehicle featuring Hybrid Electric Drive (HED). More than just a mobility solution, RHINO-HED operates as a tactical mobile power bank.

With the ability to export up to 16kW of electrical power, the RHINO-HED can charge forward-deployed assets, power communications or sensor systems, and even form the core of a mobile micro-grid when operating in numbers. Its silent drive mode extends up to 15km, while silent watch can run for 24 hours – critical capabilities in ISR-heavy operations or contested urban environments.

In addition to enhanced stealth and endurance, RHINO-HED’s fully digitised architecture includes digital mirrors, ADAS object detection, and 360° top-down views, offering a next-level situational awareness and ease of control for the crew. The platform’s modular design and internal payload capacity make it suitable for a wide range of missions – from troop transport to command and control.

TERREX s5: Future-Ready and MUMT-Enabled

The TERREX s5 Infantry Fighting Vehicle exemplifies the fusion of digital systems and combat readiness. With integrated New Generation Power Processor (NGPP), the platform ensures intelligent energy distribution without traditional fuses, simplifying maintenance and enabling smart
power management.

The platform supports full MUMT operations with features such as driving switch-over control, waypoint navigation, and automatic target detection and tracking. Its plug-and-play sensor architecture enables rapid integration of payloads, while its hybrid-electric option delivers 50km of silent range and 450kW of on-board power, offering unmatched sustainability at the tactical edge.

In the MUMT context, TERREX s5 becomes more than a transport or combat platform – it becomes a mission orchestrator, capable of commanding and collaborating with UGVs, UAVs, and fire support systems in an integrated network.

Toward a Digitised Combined Arms Doctrine

What emerges from this mix of platforms and technologies is a coherent picture of future land combat – one in which legacy distinctions between mobility, firepower, and support blur into a dynamic and interconnected force structure. In this model, every platform is a sensor, every platform a node on the network, and increasingly, every platform a platform capable of delivering effects – or a source of power.

The ultimate goal is not just survivability or lethality in isolation, but the ability to do both while operating at speed, at range, and under the pressures of information-led warfare. Manned-unmanned teaming, supported by modular and digitally-enabled platforms, is no longer a speculative future – it is the new baseline for combat effectiveness.

In this vision of warfare, ST Engineering’s Land Systems division has quietly positioned itself at the forefront – developing adaptable, network-ready platforms that reflect the hard lessons of contemporary conflict and anticipate the next. Their work is not in imagining what comes next, but in building it.