French Army tests hydrogen-powered Hermione UGV to build its first AI-led combat unit.

On January 14, 2026, the French Army began a new phase of robotic and artificial intelligence experimentation at Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan using the hydrogen-powered Hermione unmanned ground vehicle under the Pendragon framework.

On January 14, 2026, the French Army began a new phase of robotic and artificial intelligence experimentation at Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan using the hydrogen-powered Hermione unmanned ground vehicle under the Pendragon framework. The trials support the development of the first AI-directed combat unit planned for 2027, focusing on autonomy, energy endurance, and unit-level integration.
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The hydrogen-powered Hermione UGV, jointly developed by Poland’s P.H.U. Lechmar and France’s H2X-Defense, has a refuel time of three minutes, a 300-kilogram payload capacity, 20 hours of endurance, and all-wheel-drive mobility. (Picture source: French MoD)

The French Army's Pendragon framework aims to lead to the creation of its first AI-directed combat unit planned for 2027. The initiative is framed around anticipating future forms of combat while accelerating decision-making cycles and tactical effectiveness at the unit level, with experimentation conducted under the Future Combat Command and in coordination with the Ministerial Agency for Artificial Intelligence in Defense. The Hermione is the result of a joint development effort between the Polish company P.H.U. Lechmar and the French firm H2X-Defense, and was first introduced publicly in September 2025 during the International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Kielce as a technology demonstrator.

This UGV is conceived as a base platform rather than a single fixed configuration, with a modular architecture allowing rapid adaptation to logistics support, drone transport, reconnaissance, and potential armed support roles through the integration of sensor payloads or remote-controlled weapon stations. In the configuration highlighted during MSPO 2025, the Hermione UGV carries up to 300 kilograms, while alternative variants are described as scaling this capacity to 600 kilograms and up to 2 tons. This approach reflects an intent to cover a wide range of tactical support functions using common mobility and energy systems rather than multiple specialized vehicles.

The Hermione UGV measures 3.3 meters in length, 1.85 meters in width, and 1.4 meters in height, excluding mission equipment, with a ground clearance of 300 millimeters and a curb weight of 700 kilograms. Propulsion is provided by hub-mounted electric motors rated at 8 kW each, arranged to deliver all-wheel drive and distributed traction across uneven terrain. The stated top speed is 24 mph, equivalent to about 39 kilometers per hour, which places the vehicle within a range suitable for accompanying dismounted units or moving between support points rather than high-speed maneuver. Steering and drive modes are described as comparable to those found on contemporary unmanned platforms in this class, supporting precise maneuvering in confined or complex environments.

The energy system is central to Hermione’s role in Pendragon experimentation, combining hydrogen fuel cells housed in TPED-certified high-pressure cylinders with a 25 kWh battery pack. This hybrid configuration supports an operational endurance of up to 20 hours and allows the vehicle to sustain prolonged activity without frequent resupply. Refueling is described as taking about three minutes, and the design also supports field replacement of hydrogen cylinders, reducing downtime when operating away from fixed infrastructure. During French Army trials, this energy architecture is assessed not only for endurance but also for thermal behavior, acoustic output, and compatibility with dispersed operations where conventional fuel logistics may be constrained. The use of hydrogen is also tied to broader experimentation on distributed energy solutions rather than to a finalized operational choice.

The Hermione vehicle is evaluated alongside complementary hydrogen-based systems developed by H2X-Defense, notably the G-15/050 field generator. This generator is available in configurations ranging from 20 to 40 kW and incorporates energy storage of up to 25 kWh, positioning it as a mobile electricity source for deployed units, sensors, and unmanned platforms. Within the same conceptual framework, such generators can support charging, maintenance, or sustained operation of robotic systems without reliance on traditional fuel supply chains at every point. In Pendragon, this contributes to testing how unmanned ground systems, power generation, and command-and-control nodes can be combined into a more autonomous tactical network operating over extended periods.

The Hermione is not the first try of H2X, as earlier hydrogen-based ground vehicle work was conducted by H2X Ecosystems, the parent entity behind H2X-Defense, notably the Weasel unmanned ground vehicle developed following a French Army initiative launched in February 2022. That effort was led through the Battle-Lab Terre, established in 2018 to accelerate military innovation, and later supported by the creation of the Force W consortium involving defense-sector partners. The Weasel is a four-wheeled, car-sized guided vehicle designed to transport UAVs or UGVs and operate in demanding environments, using a hybrid energy system combining hydrogen propulsion and lithium batteries supplied by TYVA Energie. Its battery system consists of two Flat 12 lithium batteries connected in series to exceed 100 V and deliver 234.5 Ah, each with a thickness of 10 centimeters, for a combined mass of 145 kilograms, including a cooling system.

Weasel’s energy architecture further includes an 8-kilogram fuel cell and a 40-kilogram hydrogen tank designed to be replaced within 30 seconds, allowing rapid restoration of autonomy without recharging batteries. Production of the Weasel prototype took five months between February and June 2022, with support from TYVA Energie engineers, and its first public appearance occurred at Eurosatory 2022. In the current Pendragon context, Hermione has also been tested in combination with tethered aerial systems, including the integration of Elistair’s Khronos DroneBox, pairing UGV mobility and ground-level observation with persistent aerial surveillance up to 60 meters. These trials contribute data intended to shape requirements for the first AI-directed robotic unit planned for operational delivery by 2027, focusing on autonomy, endurance, integration, and tactical employment rather than final procurement decisions.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.