Tel Aviv: The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have expanded the use of remote controlled armoured ground vehicles in the Gaza war. One of the missions is performed by a decommissioned M113 APC loaded with explosives to destroy heavily protected targets
In high-risk regions like Rafah and Jabaliya, in Gaza, the IDF has modified a few decommissioned M113s for remote-controlled operations during the ongoing conflict. These unmanned vehicles are used to reduce the risk for the soldiers, particularly when navigating suspected heavily mined or booby-trapped areas.
One noteworthy strategy is to equip these remote-controlled M113s with explosives and launch them into suspected ambush areas or enemy positions. When the vehicles reach their target, they explode, acting as “suicide vehicles” or big, mobile loitering munitions. With this strategy, the IDF can eliminate barriers, demolish strongholds, or set off concealed explosives without putting soldiers at risk. Some of these unmanned M113s “explode on impact,” according to reports from May 2024, and their deployment has been noted in several Gazan fighting zones.
The deployment of remotely piloted, explosive-laden M113s by the IDF is a component of a larger trend toward autonomous systems and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). The development of remote and autonomous vehicle capabilities for logistical and combat missions has been aided by Israeli defence companies like Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael.
Present-day M113 conversions are mostly remote-controlled, with operators directing them from a safe distance, however fully autonomous armoured vehicles are the ultimate goal.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
