IDEX 2025: Milrem unveils Havoc 8×8 RCV

Milrem Robotics, the Estonian robotic combat vehicle (RCV) company has unveiled Havoc, an 8×8 heavy combat RCV designed to support armoured formations in frontline combat at the IDEX 2025 exhibition in Abu Dhabi. Details were provided through a Milrem press release from the 11th February and attendant details on the company’s website.

“Its robust design and advanced hybrid propulsion system allow for integrating large-calibre weaponry while maintaining precision and superior lethality on the battlefield,” Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics said in the press release. 

The hybrid propulsion system gives Havoc a top speed of 110 km/h and an operational range of 600 km, it also provides maximal torque to all wheel stations immediately. This is a benefit of electric drives compared to conventional engines, which have to work through their gears to attain optimal or maximal torque. It should, in theory, give the Havoc an edge over a similarly sized but conventionally powered vehicle when traversing difficult terrain. 

Milrem also states that Havoc is provided with AI-driven navigation, which enables it to conduct operations in diverse terrain. This indicates some ability to navigate autonomously off and on-road, which is important as the goal of RCVs is to reduce the manpower required to conduct an operation and improve resilience. If each RCV has to be controlled by one or two soldiers, then the manpower requirements compared to a conventionally crewed vehicle are simply shifted to their operating base. And, if they are reliant upon radio frequencies to communicate with the vehicle, then they are always vulnerable to adversary jamming or their own frequencies becoming congested if too many vehicles are operating in the same area. 

The vehicle has a baseline weight of 15 tonnes with 5 tonnes of additional payload which can be used to accommodate a turret armed with a 30 mm cannon such as the MCT-30 from Kongsberg or what appears to be the Skorpion mine scattering system from KNDS or a quad launcher for the HS-2 loitering munition from the Edge Group, which also owns Milrem. 

This concept image shows the Havoc RCV fitted with the KNDS mine laying system. Credit: Milrem Robotics

This broad array of potential weapons and armaments speak to the current drive behind RCVs, which is that they should perform jobs that are typically very dangerous. One CEO interviewed by Calibre remarked that it is almost morally wrong to commit personnel to a reconnaissance-by-force operation now, as they would all likely die or be wounded. An RCV, however, like Havoc or Ripsaw M5 from Textron, could be used to conduct those engagements without risking personnel and potentially achieving the same results. Equally, mine laying is an important task for conventional warfare, and when conducted ahead of an opponent’s advance can significantly delay them, but using personnel for this is again undesirable, making it a good fit for RCVs. 

The protection levels vary depending on the threat with ballistic and artillery fragmentation protection up to NATO STANAG 4569 level 3. This means the vehicle’s armour could withstand a 7.62×54R mm B32 armour-piercing incendiary round fired at 30 metres, and the fragmentation from a 155 mm artillery shell detonating within 60 m of the vehicle. The mine blast protection is stated to be level 1, which indicates that it can survive anti-personnel munitions, things like hand grenades or cluster munitions, detonating under the vehicle body. Protecting an RCV is one area with divergent views; theoretically, the size and weight of a crewed armoured vehicle is dictated by the crew and their protection needs. The bigger the crew, the bigger the vehicle, the more space that must be armoured and so on.

For an RCV, it would be theoretically possible to provide considerable protection for the vehicle’s brain and little else. Or, because the vehicle is smaller it could be protected to a very high level and remain within acceptable weight limits. Some views hold that the vehicles should be minimally protected to keep costs down and make them truly attritable, but this risks the ability to complete missions successfully. Havoc appears to have been designed with lighter protection in mind; it would withstand attacks from shoulder-fired infantry weapons but a heavy machine gun at a few hundred metres could be problematic. 

Calibre comment 

Havoc is an interesting design and it joins a growing cadre of large RCVs that have reached the concept or technology demonstrator stage. The real challenge is in users deciding upon the right way to employ them alongside existing manned fleets. This is difficult when many western armed forces are facing funding and readiness shortfalls with their existing platforms, let alone the ability to procure and deploy additional vehicles.