U.S. Army Awards Rheinmetall Hybrid Logistics UGV Contract for Battlefield Resupply.

American Rheinmetall has secured an 18-month U.S. Army contract to develop hybrid-powered unmanned ground vehicles for company-level logistics missions under Project Sustainment. The effort aims to reduce soldiers' exposure during resupply operations in contested environments while improving tactical sustainment capabilities.

The contract is managed through the National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC) as part of the Army's Project Sustainment initiative, which seeks to modernize battlefield logistics using autonomous technologies. American Rheinmetall will develop hybrid-powered unmanned ground vehicles capable of transporting supplies to frontline units while lowering fuel demand and extending operational endurance. The program supports the Army's broader effort to increase resilience and survivability during distributed operations against near-peer adversaries.

Related News: U.S. Army Selects BLADE’s Dire WOLF UGV to Automate Supply Distribution in Contested Environments

The Harbinger Praesidia hybrid vehicle platform serves as the baseline for the autonomous logistics vehicle being developed by American Rheinmetall under the U.S. Army's Project Sustainment program. (Picture source: Harbinger)

Awarded through the NAMC's Other Transaction Authority (OTA) framework, the contract places American Rheinmetall in the role of prime contractor for an industrial team that includes Harbinger, Forterra, and Primordial Labs. Development and testing will take place at multiple U.S. industrial facilities and test ranges. The contract also includes the possibility of follow-on orders as the U.S. Army continues to modernize its autonomous logistics fleet.

The award was officially announced by Rheinmetall in a press release published on July 31, 2026. According to the company, the vehicles are designed to transport supplies autonomously between rear logistics areas and forward troop positions. They will be based on Harbinger's Praesidia hybrid platform, while Forterra will provide the autonomous driving capabilities and Primordial Labs will integrate its Anura human-machine interface based on natural language voice commands.

The system is built around Harbinger's Praesidia military platform, derived from the company's commercial medium-duty vehicle architecture. Designed from the outset with a full drive-by-wire architecture, a prerequisite for autonomous operation, the platform is available with multiple wheelbase configurations to accommodate different payloads and mission profiles. It has a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 26,000 pounds (11.8 tonnes) and a payload capacity of approximately 18,000 pounds (8.2 tonnes), allowing it to support a range of logistics missions.

The plug-in hybrid propulsion system combines a high-capacity battery with a range-extending internal combustion engine. According to the manufacturer, the vehicle has a driving range of more than 500 miles (805 km), while its all-electric range reaches approximately 105 miles (169 km). The platform has a maximum speed of 65 mph (105 km/h) and can export up to 350 kW of electrical power to support command posts, communications equipment, radar systems, or other deployed assets. This capability enables the vehicle to serve as a mobile power source in addition to its logistics role.

Autonomous functions are provided by Forterra, whose software enables the vehicle to operate with limited human intervention in environments where communications may be degraded or disrupted. Primordial Labs supplies the Anura human-machine interface, which converts natural language instructions into executable vehicle commands. The system is intended to reduce operator workload, shorten training requirements, enable hands-free operation, and allow a single soldier to supervise multiple robotic platforms simultaneously.

Project Sustainment reflects lessons drawn from recent conflicts, particularly in Ukraine, where reconnaissance drones, loitering munitions and long-range precision strikes have increased the vulnerability of logistics convoys. Supply vehicles carrying ammunition, fuel, food or spare parts have become priority targets for adversaries seeking to disrupt offensive operations or slow mechanized formations. By automating resupply missions, the U.S. Army aims to maintain logistics support while reducing the need to expose personnel along contested routes. The hybrid propulsion system can also reduce the vehicle's acoustic signature during the final stages of an approach, while its onboard power generation capability allows it to support forward command posts, sensors, electronic warfare systems and counter-drone equipment without relying on separate generators.

Beyond the contract itself, Project Sustainment illustrates the U.S. Army's broader shift toward distributed, automated and more resilient logistics. The service is preparing for high-intensity operations against adversaries equipped with persistent surveillance networks and long-range strike capabilities, whether in Europe or the Indo-Pacific. In such scenarios, sustaining frontline units is becoming as important as fielding advanced combat platforms.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in Security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.