Rheinmetall Mission Master XT: German defence giant Rheinmetall Wednesday announced the release of the Mission Master XT, the latest member of its Mission Master family of Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicles (A-UGVs). Unlike the Mission Master SP platform, which is already introduced to the market, the Mission Master XT has a diesel-powered engine.
Responding to a new set of needs, the Rheinmetall Mission Master XT is highly mobile even in the toughest terrain and capable of carrying impressive payloads. The Mission Master XT was developed by Rheinmetall Canada, said the company.
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Mission Master for extreme terrains
The German defence company said its Mission Master XT thrives in extreme terrain.
“It easily tackles ice, snow, and sub-zero weather conditions, as well as sandy, rocky and mountainous topography. Its advanced amphibious capabilities allow it to float and swim while maintaining its full payload capacity,” Rheinmetall said.
Weighing in at 2,217 kilograms, this powerful A-UGV can carry a 1,000 kilograms payload in all scenarios, allowing troops to transport special equipment to hard-to-reach locations.
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The diesel-powered engine allows it to travel 750 km without refuelling, while lithium-ion batteries enable up to 6 hours of silent watch operations.
According to a company statement, a remarkable feature of the Rheinmetall Mission Master XT is its continuous tire inflation system, which adjusts the tire pressure as needed based on the terrain.
Featuring high endurance and survivability, the A-UGV keeps moving on even with 2 cm-holes in the tires.
Intelligent and easy to control
Like the other platforms in the Rheinmetall Mission Master family, the Mission Master XT is optimized to take on dull, dirty and dangerous tasks, allowing soldiers to focus on their core missions more effectively and in greater safety, said the company.
“It is driven by Rheinmetall PATH, a proven autonomy kit (A-kit) that enables a wide range of autonomous driving and navigation capabilities,” it added.
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Rheinmetall Mission Master XT is designed for extreme terrains.
The Mission Master family is fully compatible with NATO-standard battle management systems and can be controlled through a variety of teleoperation options.
“The most multifunctional of these is a smart tablet developed by Rheinmetall, which allows the operator to control any Mission Master platform and payload through a single interface, a first for the market”, Alain Tremblay, Vice-President of Business Development and Innovation at Rheinmetall Canada, said in a statement sent to Defence Star.
“For instance, users can monitor camera feeds or direct a weapon station, then quickly program the platform to navigate itself autonomously to a desired location, all from the same device,” he added.
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If necessary, this robust, tried-and-tested mechanical platform can operate in manned configuration, with an integrated joystick and emergency seat, Rheinmetall said.
Multi-mission capabilities
According to the German defence company, Rheinmetall Mission Master XT can take on multiple missions in any situation.
The scope of activities the A-UGV can conduct includes logistic transport, surveillance, fire support, rescue, medical evacuation, CBRN detection, communication relay and a multitude of other client-specific requirements. Rheinmetall is committed to maximum operational safety at all times, keeping a human in the loop in all kinetic operations, it added.
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