Norway has received its first Rheinmetall Mission Master XT, an extreme terrain unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), capable of thriving in sub-zero temperatures.
The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment awarded Rheinmetall the contract after it won a competitive bid with challenging mobility and schedule requirements.
This contract comes just months after Rheinmetall took part in the Arctic Mobility Trials in Finland, where the autonomy and mobility of the Rheinmetall Mission Master XT were put to the test. Despite a challenging environment and -30°C weather conditions, the vehicle successfully navigated through icy rivers and climbed up slippery banks.
“We are proud to have developed systems that can withstand some of the world’s harshest conditions. These recent trials have proven that we are in a strong position to meet the needs of Nordic countries that face similar challenges to us here in Canada,” said Alain Tremblay, Vice President for Business Development and Innovation at Rheinmetall Canada.
Developed by Rheinmetall Canada in 2021, the Mission Master XT can tackle ice and snow, as well as sandy, rocky and mountainous topography. Its advanced amphibious capabilities allow it to float and swim while maintaining its full payload capacity. Weighing in at 2,217kg, this powerful A-UGV can carry a 1000kg payload, allowing troops to transport special equipment to hard-to-reach locations. The diesel-powered engine allows it to travel 750km without refuelling, while internal batteries enable up to 6 hours of silent watch operations. Another key feature of the Rheinmetall Mission Master XT is its high-performance continuous tyre inflation system, which adjusts the tire pressure according to the terrain.
Like other platforms in the Rheinmetall Mission Master family, the XT vehicle is driven by Rheinmetall PATH, an AI-powered navigation system that can be installed on any vehicle. This agnostic suite of advanced sensors and perception algorithms enables Mission Master vehicles to navigate autonomously through challenging environments, while keeping soldiers out of harm’s way.
