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American Rheinmetall wins US Army contract for hybrid autonomous UGVs
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American Rheinmetall has secured an 18-month contract under the US Army's Project Sustainment to develop hybrid-powered, uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) for tactical logistics. Awarded via the National Advanced Mobility Consortium, the project aims to autonomously transport supplies to and from front lines, reducing soldier exposure to danger. The UGVs will feature enhanced autonomy, hybrid power integration, and voice control via natural language processing. American Rheinmetall is partnering with Harbinger (commercial vehicle expertise), Forterra (autonomy solutions), and Primordial Labs (Anura human-machine interface). Work will occur at various US locations and test ranges, with potential for future orders. The contract supports the Army's modernization priorities by delivering autonomous load-handling and transport capabilities.
Source report
American Rheinmetall has secured a contract to deliver new autonomous ground vehicle technologies for the US Army under Project Sustainment.
The 18-month agreement, awarded via the National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC), tasks the company and its partners with developing hybrid-powered, uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) designed to bolster tactical sustainment missions.
Project Overview
The project calls for UGVs that can autonomously transport supplies and materiel to and from the front lines, reducing exposure to danger for soldiers and supporting the Army’s broader modernisation agenda.
According to the company, the vehicles will feature enhanced autonomy and hybrid power integration, and are intended to support logistical operations for company-sized units.
Key Priorities
Key priorities for Project Sustainment include:
- Integration of commercial technologies
- Advanced autonomy
- Improved human-machine interfaces
Among the features being developed is voice control, aimed at enabling soldiers to interact with the robotic systems using natural language commands.
Partners
American Rheinmetall is partnering with several firms on the programme:
- Harbinger – contributing commercial vehicle and technology expertise to support rapid development and production
- Forterra – providing autonomy solutions to facilitate distributed, low-intervention operation in challenging environments
- Primordial Labs – supplying its Anura human-machine interface, which uses natural language processing to translate commanders’ intent and streamline vehicle control
Work and Future Orders
Work on the contract will take place at various locations and test ranges in the United States, according to the announcement. The contract allows for the possibility of future orders as the Army continues to evolve its autonomous logistics fleet.
Executive Comment
Jim Schirmer, American Rheinmetall Sales & Marketing VP, said: "This award expands American Rheinmetall’s growing portfolio of uncrewed ground systems within the US market and reinforces our position as a leader in ground robotics and autonomous technologies.
"Project Sustainment directly supports the Army’s modernisation priorities by delivering autonomous load‑handling and transport capabilities that increase readiness and reduce the burden on Soldiers."
Background
In May this year, American Rheinmetall partnered with Harbinger to develop and field a family of robotic and UGVs to support US Department of War’s (DoW) modernisation priorities.
Prototype uncrewed military ground vehicle for American Rheinmetall, built on Harbinger’s dual-use hybrid chassis. Credit: Harbinger/PRNewswire.
Source
Army TechnologyWestern
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