Dive Brief:
- Defense contractor American Rheinmetall and commercial vehicle maker Harbinger have formed an agreement to research and develop robotic and uncrewed ground vehicles to support the Department of Defense’s modernization priorities, the companies announced May 27.
- The companies will jointly pursue current and new DOD programs, leveraging their commercial sourcing, hybrid electric and electronic-control vehicle device designs to “accelerate the delivery of robotic combat, logistics, and sustainment capabilities,” according to the press release.
- Additionally, Rheinmetall announced Tuesday its plans to spend $41 million across six of its U.S. manufacturing facilities to expand production capacity, upgrade operations and boost its supply chain.
Dive Insight:
Harbinger and American Rheinmetall pledged to design, engineer and manufacture the UGVs in the U.S., according to the press release. The joint R&D deal addresses DOD’s priorities on combat effectiveness, affordability and industrial readiness.
The Germany-based company’s American subsidiary has an established U.S. industrial presence supporting major GCV programs. Moreover, American Rheinmetall contributes its combat vehicle expertise, system designs and “adaptable mission kit interface” to the joint collaboration.
For Harbinger’s part, the company’s hybrid platform pairs its electric chassis with a gas-powered range extender, recharging the battery to keep missions going in “demanding environments.” The company designs and assembles its powertrain, battery systems and chassis at its California headquarters.
Harbinger’s partnership with American Rheinmetall enables the commercial vehicle manufacturer to contribute its autonomy-ready platform at low cost, co-founder and CEO John Harris said in the press release.
“Together, we can give soldiers robotic systems that are affordable enough to be everywhere they're needed, and tough enough to do the job when they get there,” Harris said in a statement. “Most importantly, by taking the driver out of the vehicle with advanced autonomy and teleoperation, we can keep service men and women out of harm’s way.”
Harbinger and American Rheinmetall expect to begin their GVC demonstrations in the summer and pursue new prototyping opportunities through programs such as the Commercial Solutions Openings and Other Transaction Authorities.
American Rheinmetall has been scaling its facilities in Michigan, Ohio and Maine. The $41 million investment has been used to support various programs including the U.S. Army’s XM30 combat vehicle, mobile tactical cannon, common tactical truck and common autonomous multi-domain launcher, along with critical missile, subsystem and combat mobility component production.
American Rheinmetall has already spent about $12 million on equipment installations and facility upgrades. Currently, $26 million is being used to procure equipment, automation initiatives, plant upgrades and manufacturing expansion projects.
The remaining $3 million is scheduled to be implemented later this year.
