► British Army UGV provider DCE looks to allied markets following DVD 2026

Hinckley, UK, 29 September 2026 – British robotics company Digital Concepts Engineering (DCE) is increasing its focus on European, NATO and other allied markets following the growing adoption of its X-Series Universal Carrier by the British Army and a significant presence at the UK’s principal military land-equipment event.

DCE’s X-Series is a family of modular tracked uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) designed to provide an affordable common platform for multiple battlefield roles. Earlier this year the British Army competitively selected DCE to provide an initial 15 X-Series Universal Carriers, establishing its first operational UGV capability. Production is under way at DCE’s facility in Hinckley, UK.

At Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD), held at Millbrook on 16-17 September, 20 X-Series UGVs appeared across eight British Army and industry stands. Configurations included logistics, CASEVAC, ISTAR, breaching and fire-support roles, alongside a new anti-tank configuration developed with MBDA. X-Series was also integrated with systems and propositions from companies including Babcock, BAE Systems, JLR, INEOS, Edgar Brothers and NP Aerospace.

The breadth of applications reflects DCE’s approach of using a common, adaptable and affordable carrier rather than developing separate robotic vehicles for individual tasks. For armed forces seeking to introduce UGVs at meaningful scale, DCE’s emphasis is on operational utility, modularity and retaining sufficient affordability for systems expected to operate in increasingly contested and attritable environments.

The company is already exposing X-Series to different allied operating environments. Vehicles deployed with the British Army on Exercise RHINO STORM in Germany earlier this year and subsequently supported British Army experimentation at Project Convergence Capstone in the United States. Further vehicles are due to undergo cold-weather trials with the Finnish Defence Forces later this year.

DCE and Babcock target international opportunities

At DVD, DCE and Babcock also announced a Memorandum of Understanding to explore UK and international opportunities for uncrewed ground systems.

The agreement combines DCE’s UGV and robotic-control expertise with Babcock’s manufacturing, systems-integration and through-life support capabilities. The companies will explore cooperation across training, integration, logistics, infrastructure and operational support, as well as the incorporation of DCE platforms and control systems into wider Babcock defence solutions.

The partnership was demonstrated at DVD through the integration of Babcock’s digital ammunition rack onto an X-Series UGV, illustrating the potential for uncrewed resupply of mortar and artillery systems and remote management of ammunition and other logistic supplies.

X-Series can carry mission payloads in the 150-500kg range and tow up to three tonnes, while DCE’s Marionette™ Universal Control System provides a complementary capability to convert existing vehicles for remote or autonomous operation.

From battlefield learning to allied capability

DCE is also developing relationships with European and Ukrainian manufacturers. At DVD it displayed Ukrainian manufacturer Tencore’s TerMIT alongside X-Series and an Eiselin Landsystems Sand-X Lynx converted for autonomous operation using DCE’s Marionette control system.

The developing relationship with Tencore is intended to explore how operational experience gained from large-scale UGV use in Ukraine can be combined with the engineering, safety, integration and through-life support requirements expected by UK and allied armed forces.

Mike McGinty, Chief Executive Officer of Digital Concepts Engineering, said:

“The important change we are seeing is that UGVs are moving beyond experimentation and into operational capability. The British Army is already taking that step, but the requirements we are discussing with partners and allied armed forces are remarkably similar: useful capability, affordable enough to field at scale and adaptable enough to evolve as threats and tactics change.

“X-Series gives us a common platform on which different nations, partners and mission-system providers can integrate the capabilities they need. Our partnership with Babcock adds another important dimension – the scale, integration and through-life support required to turn individual robotic platforms into sustainable military capability.

“DCE is British by design and manufacture, but our ambition for X-Series is international. We are keen to work with allied nations and industry partners who are confronting the same challenge of getting useful robotic capability into soldiers’ hands quickly and at meaningful scale.”