German defence tech startup ARX Robotics has secured €31mn to ramp up production of its autonomous battlefield robots, which look like mini tanks — minus the guns. 

ARX — backed by NATO’s Innovation Fund — will also use the fresh capital to advance its operating system, Mithras OS. The software is designed to modernise existing military vehicles through AI, sensor systems, and autonomous driving capabilities. The company estimates it can retrofit 50,000 NATO vehicles with the tech.

The co-founder and CEO of ARX, Marc Wietfeld — who will speak at TNW Conference and the Assembly in June — wants his company to become the European leader in the segment.

“The demand for modular, software-driven defence systems is growing rapidly — and we’re building the company that will define this category in Europe”, said Wietfeld.

Earlier this month, ARX announced plans to invest £45mn into a new UK facility, where it will build its autonomous ground vehicles. The company expects the plant to produce 1,800 war robots each year once up and running.