A new type of autonomous, and hybrid‑powered uncrewed ground vehicles is set to boost the battle power of the U.S. Army. For this, American Rheinmetall has been awarded an 18-month contract for the U.S. Army’s Project Sustainment effort.
American Rheinmetall will deliver next‑generation uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) capabilities that strengthen the Army’s tactical sustainment operations and support its broader modernization objectives.
Plug-in hybrid defense vehicle
The U.S. Army has selected Harbinger’s plug-in hybrid defense vehicle as the basis for American Rheinmetall’s autonomous unmanned ground vehicle (UGVs) contract.
The vehicles will autonomously transport supplies to and from the forward line of troops, reducing risk to soldiers and increasing operational efficiency in contested environments.
American Rheinmetall revealed that under Project Sustainment, it will provide hybrid‑powered, autonomous UGVs designed to support company‑sized element sustainment missions. These vehicles will autonomously transport supplies to and from the forward line of troops, reducing risk to Soldiers and increasing operational efficiency in contested environments.
“This award expands American Rheinmetall’s growing portfolio of uncrewed ground systems within the U.S. market and reinforces our position as a leader in ground robotics and autonomous technologies,” said Jim Schirmer, VP of Sales & Marketing, American Rheinmetall.
“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.”
The program emphasizes advancements in autonomy, commerciality, and hybrid power integration, and incorporates innovative features such as voice control to enhance Soldier‑system interaction. Work will be conducted across U.S. facilities and test ranges.
American Rheinmetall revealed that it’s executing this effort in collaboration with key partners, including Harbinger, Forterra, and Primordial Labs. The partnership with Harbinger brings significant commercial technology and vehicle expertise to the program, enabling rapid development and scalable production pathways.
Forterra provides the autonomous capabilities that enable distributed, mission-aware, and resilient military operations in contested environments. These capabilities strengthen the solution’s ability to operate with minimal human intervention while further reducing risk to Soldiers. Primordial Labs’ next-generation human-machine interface, Anura, transforms robotic systems into battlefield teammates, according to a press release.
By distilling commander’s intent through intuitive, natural language commands, Anura scales the Soldier-to-robot ratio, reduces cognitive burden, accelerates training timelines, and enables heads-up, hands-free operation.
Hybrid vehicle platform exemplifies how commercial technologies can be adapted
“The Harbinger hybrid vehicle platform exemplifies how proven commercial technologies can be rapidly adapted to meet the evolving needs of the U.S. military,” said John Harris, Co-founder and CEO of Harbinger.
“By partnering with American Rheinmetall, we’re bringing together advanced vehicle platforms, scalable manufacturing, and proprietary battery technology to deliver autonomous-ready vehicles that reduce risk to soldiers while enhancing military operational effectiveness.”
The contract includes the potential for follow‑on orders as the Army continues to evolve and modernize its autonomous logistics fleet.