A brochure on an UGV system from Zhuhai. No translation necessary.
Having a modular system that can adapt to different battlefield is definitely a big plus for export to overseas customers.Two more pages from the marketing brochure for the EEL UGV system.
I don't know, hearing someone say "send in the eels!" and then watching your troops be destroyed by said "eels" gotta affect morale somehow right?
I feel like it won't leave a good impression for rich oils ME nations who are big customers since they aren't really familiar with eels and would find the naming a bit bizzare. Name it after camels or something, since one of the models already have the two 'humps' , at least it will be more effective than 81mm mortars on actual camel's.
The caveat to all of this is the effect of EW, so far from Ukraine either the full EW capabilities of modern warfare is not on display or the reality of EW in battlefield is middling at best based on unimpeded UAV usage. If you can still maintain useful range for remote controlled platforms under heavy EW saturation then it could be a useful tool for ambush/fire support, but honestly I believe vehicle mounted NLOS will have more utility versus having robots replace a normal atgm team.
For large formations, yes EW will be a big issue. However, there are always targets of opportunity and 2nd line type targets (logistic convoys) which probably wouldn't be covered by EW. These were the worst hit by IEDs in Afghanistan and Iraq. Even if you start including EW assets within a convoy, it would start to stretch resources.
I still feel that currently, a delicated atgm team will still be more flexible and effective compared to such a system, for unmanned atgm carriers to be more than a footnote/eyecatcher in a arms expo, it will need autonomous target engagement/hunter killer capabilities, as the sustainment and operation of such a system effort-wise would be equal to if not more than just using people instead.
