Germany's Rheinmetall has tested an unmanned bridge-laying system
Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles, a company formed from the Croatian firm DOK-ING, conducted two rounds of field tests in Croatia on the MV-8 Komodo heavy ground-based robotic system. During the tests, military personnel evaluated the robotic system’s capabilities for bridge deployment and autonomous vehicle control.
The MV-8 Komodo-based bridge-laying system was tested at the “Cerovac” engineering range near Karlovac.
Representatives from the Croatian Ministry of Defense and the Croatian Army participated in the tests.
A Cobra bridge manufactured by General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) was installed on the robotic platform.
The bridge has a military load class (MLC) of 90. According to this classification, it can be used by tracked vehicles weighing up to 81.7 metric tons or wheeled vehicles weighing up to 93.9 metric tons.
When deployed, the bridge is 15 meters long and is designed to cross small rivers, ditches, canals, and craters approximately 8–14 meters wide.
Rheinmetall cites the “Unmanned Gap Crossing System” as one of the complex’s key features.
Its unique feature is that a single operator, using a single console, remotely controls both the MV-8 Komodo itself and the bridge mounted on it.
Upon arrival at the crossing site, the bridge unfolds in about two minutes. This is the approximate deployment time specified by the manufacturer, GDELS.
Remote control of the system within line of sight is possible at a distance of approximately 1.5 km.
At the same time, according to the developers, even after the vehicle’s height and length have nearly doubled, the maximum speed of the hybrid diesel-electric powertrain remains at 55 km/h, and the other key tactical and technical characteristics remain unchanged.
The second phase of testing focused on the PATH A-Kit autonomous control package, developed by Rheinmetall’s Canadian division.
The testing was conducted at the “Yevhen Kvaternyk” test range near Slun.
The PATH A-Kit system was originally designed for civilian cargo convoys, but it is now being adapted for use with robotic platforms.
The PATH A-Kit enables the MV-8 Komodo to follow a predefined route, move in a convoy, and record and replay its travel paths.
In addition, the system is capable of automatically detecting obstacles and navigating around them.
GPS, LIDAR, and radar are used for navigation. At the same time, the system can continue to perform tasks even in the absence of a GPS signal.
According to Rheinmetall engineers, the PATH A-Kit demonstrated reliable performance during testing.
Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles expects to complete testing of the bridge system this fall.
Thus, the MV-8 Komodo is being tested in two key areas simultaneously: remote bridge deployment to overcome obstacles and autonomous navigation using the PATH A-Kit.
This was reported by the Croatian publication Hrvatski vojnik.
Earlier, the German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall unveiled the new-generation GMF 140 frigate, designed for the navies of NATO countries and their allies. The 140-meter-long ship, with a displacement of over 6,000 metric tons, is equipped with modern air defense, missile defense, and anti-submarine warfare systems, as well as the capability to launch 64 missiles from vertical launch systems.
Rheinmetall successfully tested the launch of FV-014 loitering munitions from a container-based launcher mounted on a moving truck. The company has already released a video of the tests.
