- American Rheinmetall and Harbinger announced a partnership on May 27, 2026 to develop robotic and uncrewed ground vehicles for the U.S. Department of War. - The partnership combines American Rheinmetall's combat vehicle integration with Harbinger's drive-by-wire hybrid-electric chassis, with joint demonstrations planned for summer 2026. American Rheinmetall and electric vehicle startup Harbinger announced a partnership on May 27 to develop and field a family of robotic and uncrewed ground vehicles for the U.S. Department of War, pairing a combat vehicle integration specialist with a commercially derived hybrid-electric chassis designed from the ground up for autonomous operation. The teaming, announced from Garden Grove, California and Houston, Texas, targets Army modernization programs centered on autonomous tactical wheeled vehicles, contested logistics resupply, and next-generation robotic platforms that can operate without a driver in the vehicle. Uncrewed ground vehicles have moved from experimental programs to urgent procurement priorities faster than almost anyone in the Army predicted, driven by the comprehensive demonstration in Ukraine that unmanned systems operating in ground logistics, reconnaissance, and direct support roles can reduce the human exposure that conventional vehicle operations require. The Army’s manned-unmanned teaming concept, which envisions robotic vehicles operating alongside and in support of crewed formations, depends on a supply of autonomous platforms that are capable enough to be trusted in contested environments, affordable enough to field in the numbers required to matter tactically, and rugged enough to survive the punishment that combat operations impose. That last word, attritable, has become the defining requirement: a robot that costs too much to risk losing is a robot commanders will hold back rather than employ aggressively, defeating the purpose of having it. Harbinger’s contribution to the partnership addresses the cost and autonomy-readiness dimensions of that requirement. The California company designs and assembles its powertrain, battery systems, and chassis in-house,