Germany’s Rheinmetall demonstrates amphibious Mission Master SP2 ground robot capabilities in NATO trials.

Rheinmetall’s Mission Master SP2 unmanned ground vehicle demonstrated its advanced amphibious capabilities and real-time integration with NATO networks during the REPMUS and Dynamic Messenger 2025 exercises off the coast of Portugal. This milestone highlights NATO’s commitment to adopting autonomous systems to protect coastal infrastructure and enhance joint force connectivity.

Rheinmetall’s Mission Master SP2 unmanned ground vehicle made a significant leap in amphibious autonomy and operational maturity during this year’s REPMUS and Dynamic Messenger exercises, as demonstrated in a Rheinmetall video released on November 18, 2025. Company engineers and NATO officials highlighted this as one of the clearest public demonstrations of the platform’s capabilities, describing how the vehicle seamlessly shifted from shoreline movement to semi-submerged tasks while feeding data directly into NATO’s evolving command and control architecture. The tests took place along the Portuguese coast, where NATO regularly evaluates cutting-edge unmanned systems for reconnaissance, protection, and multi-domain support roles.
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Rheinmetall’s Mission Master SP2 is a fully amphibious, autonomous ground vehicle designed for multi-domain operations, capable of executing surveillance, logistics, and combat support missions on land and at sea with seamless NATO system integration. (Picture source: Rheinmetall)

This deployment is distinguished by the Rheinmetall Mission Master SP2’s real-time interoperability with allied command and control systems during live missions, and its advanced autonomous waterborne navigation. Rheinmetall’s video, featuring rare footage of the SP2 deploying from a naval platform and traversing sea and coastal terrain, underlines the strategic importance of unmanned amphibious systems under NATO’s expanding multi-domain operations. During the exercise, the SP2 performed infrastructure surveillance, port security, naval fire-support observation, and dynamic rerouting under GPS denial.

Built on Rheinmetall’s second-generation SP2 platform, the Mission Master is engineered for full amphibious capability and high land mobility. It uses a rugged 8x8 electric drivetrain, enabling low acoustic and thermal signatures ideal for stealth operations in contested areas. For maritime maneuvering, the SP2 is equipped with integrated dual waterjets at the rear hull, giving it propulsion across inland waterways, surf zones, and flooded urban terrain. The chassis is fully sealed and IP-rated for saltwater operations, and the vehicle maintains directional stability in rough surf through adaptive software that adjusts propulsion and steering vectors in real time.

Technically, the SP2 is built around a modular architecture allowing for rapid reconfiguration across a range of missions. During REPMUS 2025, it was observed operating in a reconnaissance and surveillance configuration featuring a full suite of electro-optical and infrared sensors, acoustic detection systems, and AI-powered object classification tools. It also supports weapons integration, electronic warfare payloads, casualty evacuation kits, and even logistics modules. A tethered UAV launcher is reportedly under development, offering commanders organic aerial ISR capabilities directly from the UGV.

The platform features a digital open architecture compatible with NATO’s C4ISR systems, enabling plug-and-play integration with unmanned aerial and surface platforms. Its autonomous navigation software incorporates LiDAR-based mapping, obstacle avoidance, GPS-denied localization, and multi-path rerouting based on real-time threat analysis. Human operators can assume manual control at any point via Rheinmetall’s intuitive control console, which supports encrypted communications over secure mesh networks and tactical LTE.

The Mission Master SP2 brings a compelling mix of survivability, tactical flexibility, and low signature. Its main technical features include:

The SP2’s fully amphibious 8x8 all-terrain electric drivetrain provides mobility over both land and water. Its integrated dual waterjets ensure effective aquatic propulsion, while independent suspension and sealed hull construction make it resilient across flooded terrain and urban rubble. The vehicle measures approximately 2.95 meters in length, 1.65 meters in width, and stays under 1.5 meters high in its low-profile transport mode. It can carry up to 1,000 kg of mission-specific payloads, including ISR pods, remote weapon stations, medevac stretchers, or logistics racks. Silent electric motors support both stealth and endurance missions, while the modular payload interface allows for rapid mission reconfiguration.

Its advanced autonomous system is equipped with AI-powered navigation and adaptive decision-making tools. The vehicle can operate in GPS-denied environments and re-route dynamically in response to terrain or threats. Navigation and obstacle avoidance are guided by a combination of LiDAR, inertial navigation, and real-time mapping. Communication capabilities include encrypted mesh networking, tactical LTE, and optional SATCOM, providing real-time data relay and coordination with other unmanned systems. The SP2 is built for full NATO interoperability, enabling seamless integration into allied command-and-control structures.

This year’s REPMUS (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Unmanned Systems) and Dynamic Messenger 2025 exercises brought together over 2,500 personnel and more than 30 autonomous platforms from 17 nations. Rheinmetall’s Mission Master SP2 was among a small number of systems cleared for full amphibious integration across both scenarios, highlighting its operational maturity and alignment with NATO’s modernization priorities.

NATO’s deployment of the Mission Master SP2 signals an intensified focus on countering hybrid threats to critical maritime infrastructure. As adversaries use gray-zone tactics targeting ports, undersea cables, and coastal radar nodes, the SP2 offers decisive advantages by projecting force and conducting ISR in high-risk zones without endangering personnel. These attributes make such autonomous systems increasingly essential for alliance defense planning.

With its performance in Portugal now part of NATO’s broader experimentation portfolio, the SP2 positions Rheinmetall at the forefront of autonomous land-sea integration. Several allied nations with coastal defense priorities are reportedly evaluating the platform for future procurement. Further enhancements under consideration include weaponized variants with Rheinmetall’s Skyranger turret for mobile counter-UAS defense, potentially transforming the SP2 from a reconnaissance asset into a frontline combat multiplier.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.