American Rheinmetall has been awarded an 18-month contract under the U.S. Army’s Project Sustainment initiative to develop next-generation autonomous uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) for tactical logistics operations.
The project will be carried out through the National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC), with American Rheinmetall serving as the prime contractor.
Hybrid UGVs to Support Tactical Logistics
Under the contract, American Rheinmetall will deliver hybrid-powered autonomous UGVs designed to support company-level sustainment missions.
The vehicles are intended to transport supplies autonomously between logistics hubs and forward operating positions, helping reduce risks to military personnel while improving operational efficiency in contested environments.
The program focuses on advancing autonomous navigation, commercial vehicle technologies and hybrid propulsion. It also incorporates voice-control capabilities to improve interaction between soldiers and robotic systems.
Development and testing activities will be conducted at multiple facilities and test ranges across the United States.
Industry Partners Contribute Key Technologies
American Rheinmetall is collaborating with several technology partners on the program.
Harbinger will contribute commercial vehicle technology and manufacturing expertise to support vehicle development and future production. Forterra will provide the autonomous driving capabilities that enable mission-aware operation with minimal human intervention in complex environments.
Primordial Labs will supply its Anura human-machine interface, which enables operators to interact with robotic systems using natural language voice commands.
“Project Sustainment directly supports the Army’s modernization priorities by delivering autonomous load-handling and transport capabilities that increase readiness and reduce the burden on Soldiers,” said Jim Schirmer, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at American Rheinmetall.
Supports Army Modernization Efforts
The contract includes the possibility of follow-on orders as the U.S. Army continues expanding and modernizing its autonomous logistics capabilities.
American Rheinmetall said the program further strengthens its portfolio of uncrewed ground systems in the U.S. defense market while supporting the military’s broader modernization objectives through autonomous logistics technologies.
