Rheinmetall Norway has launched the first Mission Master XT to Norway. This is an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) for extreme terrain, which can also be used in temperatures below freezing. Rheinmetall received the order from the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment, which is responsible for research and development in the Norwegian Ministry of Defense.
Capability testing under Nordic conditions
The order was nThe Mission Master XT was awarded the “Artic Mobility Trials” award just a few months after taking part in the “Artic Mobility Trials” in Finland, where both the autonomy and mobility capabilities of the Mission Master XT were put to the test. Despite the extremely challenging environment and a temperature of minus 30 degrees, the Mission Master XT managed to navigate through icy rivers and overcome impassable riverbanks, according to a recent press release.
“We are proud to have developed systems that can withstand the harshest conditions. Recent testing has proven that we can meet the needs of the Nordic countries, which face similar challenges to those here in Canada,” says Alain Tremblay, Vice President of Business Development and Innovation at Rheinmetall Canada.
Rheinmetall Mission Master XT, a UGV for extreme terrain
The Rheinmetall Mission Master XT was developed by Rheinmetall Canada in 2021 and can be used on ice and snow as well as in sandy, rocky and mountainous terrain. Its amphibious capabilities allow it to swim – without any payload restrictions.
With a weight of 2,217 kilograms, the robotic vehicle can transport a payload of 1,000 kilograms and enables armed forces, for example, to bring special equipment to hard-to-reach places. The diesel engine has a range of 750 kilometers, while the internal batteries enable up to six hours of guard duty. Another feature of the Rheinmetall Mission Master XT is the tire pressure system, which adapts the Duck to the terrain conditions.
Like the other platforms in the Rheinmetall Mission Master family, the XT vehicle is powered by Rheinmetall PATH: an AI-supported navigation system that can be installed on any vehicle. The sensors and perception algorithms enable the Mission Master vehicles to navigate autonomously through difficult environments while transporting soldiers out of the danger zone.
Here for further reports on Rheinmetall.
