Rheinmetall and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MoD) have successfully delivered an autonomous logistics training program to British Army personnel, culminating in the first UK HX autonomous convoy operated by British soldiers using the UK Advanced Land Autonomy Centre of Excellence (ALACoE) PATH Kit.
Delivered over two weeks at the Combat Service Support Trials and Development Unit (CSS TDU) in Aldershot, the program prepared personnel from 8 Squadron, 27 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) for participation in Project Convergence Capstone 6 (PCC6) as part of Project MAIA, the British Army’s initiative to explore and evaluate autonomous systems for future logistics operations.
The successful completion of the first UK HX autonomous convoy marks a milestone in the Army’s exploration of autonomous capability, demonstrating how advanced technologies can enhance operational effectiveness while equipping soldiers with the skills and confidence to plan, manage and operate autonomous logistics convoys.
Training was conducted using the HX2 development vehicle White Pony, equipped with Rheinmetall’s PATH Autonomous Kit (A-Kit)—a platform-agnostic autonomous driving system that enables existing vehicle fleets to operate autonomously.
Combining advanced sensors, AI-enabled navigation and robotic control software, the system allows vehicles to operate independently or as part of a convoy, giving British Army personnel valuable hands-on experience in realistic operational scenarios.
Throughout the program, soldiers were trained in the roles of Convoy Commander, Lead Vehicle Driver and Safety Driver before progressing through increasingly demanding on-road and off-road exercises. Training scenarios included blocked routes, disabled vehicles and dynamic convoy management, replicating the challenges expected during PCC6 at Fort Irwin, California.
The program was delivered collaboratively by Rheinmetall teams from Austria, the UK and Canada.
“Autonomous technologies are transforming the future of military logistics. Through our collaboration with the UK Ministry of Defence and colleagues across Rheinmetall, we are helping British Army personnel develop the skills and confidence to operate next-generation autonomous capabilities. This milestone demonstrates what can be achieved when innovation, collaboration and operational expertise come together, and we look forward to supporting the continued development of these capabilities at Project Convergence Capstone 6," CEO of Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles, Christoph Müller, stated.
Project Convergence Capstone 6 will bring together international partners to evaluate emerging technologies in realistic operational environments, generating valuable insights into how autonomous systems can strengthen logistics, improve operational resilience and inform future capability development.