Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV)
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The U.S. Army is expanding its field evaluation of the Hunter WOLF unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) through a Transition in Contact event with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
Engineered by HDT Robotics, LLC, doing business as BLADE, the Hunter WOLF is a compact, multi-mission robotic platform built specifically to reduce the physical burden on dismounted infantry. Capable of carrying payloads up to 2,800lbs, the vehicle is designed to operate in demanding environments where traditional commercial vehicles fail. By transporting critical supplies, equipment, and personnel, the system helps address the military’s “last tactical mile” supply challenge while extending operational duration, reducing soldier fatigue, and allowing personnel to keep a safer distance from hazardous tasks.
The hands-on training event provides tactical feedback from the 82nd Airborne Division, a premier rapid-response force capable of deploying worldwide within 18 hours for parachute assaults and specialized infantry missions.
Tom Van Doren, President of Robotics at BLADE, said, “No two Army units operate the same way. The value of these evaluations is seeing how the Hunter WOLF supports different mission sets, environments, and operational priorities. Every event helps validate the flexibility of the platform and identify new ways it can reduce workload and help keep soldiers out of harm’s way.”
During the exercise, soldiers operate and evaluate the platform in real-world scenarios to assess system operations and battlefield integration. The vehicles are configured to support a broad set of mission requirements, featuring two AN/VRC-158 vehicle-mounted tactical radios, autonomous capabilities, five Universal Battery Chargers, casualty evacuation setups, extended cargo rails for equipment transport, and a 15kW mobile power export with a 120/240VAC inverter offload.
John Conway, VP of Business Development, Robotics at BLADE, added, “The 82nd Airborne brings a unique operational perspective centered on agility, mobility, and rapid deployment. Training units like this help demonstrate how the Hunter WOLF can integrate into light / mobile infantry operations while delivering the support soldiers need to stay focused on the warfighting mission.”
This latest activity follows earlier evaluations conducted with other U.S. Army formations, including the 3rd Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division and the 101st Airborne Division, further testing the platform’s adaptability across diverse operational environments.
