ARX Robotics Hector

History

ARX Robotics Hector is a medium-class wheeled uncrewed ground vehicle developed in Germany for military missions requiring robotic mobility, payload transport and operation under human supervision. The platform combines optional manning, remote control and supervised autonomous operation on a modular vehicle architecture.

Hector is built around ARX Robotics' Mithra OS and an onboard computing system. The vehicle is intended to carry sensors, logistics loads, effectors and other mission equipment while integrating with existing command structures.

The system was physically documented by December 2025 and was presented publicly during 2026. In September 2026, ARX Robotics UK and General Dynamics Land Systems-UK began work to explore integration of Hector with the British Army's Ajax armored vehicle family as a robotic ground teammate.

Development

ARX Robotics developed Hector as a scalable medium-class ground robotics platform intended to keep pace with maneuver units. The design uses a common modular chassis, open payload interfaces and software-defined vehicle functions so that different mission equipment can be installed without creating a separate vehicle for every role.

The vehicle can be driven by personnel to the edge of a mission area before control is transferred to teleoperation or supervised autonomy. This concept is intended to allow personnel to withdraw from exposed positions while the vehicle continues tasks such as reconnaissance, logistics support or carriage of mission equipment.

ARX Robotics has described both electric and combustion-engine powertrain configurations. The electric configuration is intended for missions where reduced acoustic and thermal signatures are important. A combustion-engine configuration has also been described for longer-range and higher-tempo operations, with figures of up to 120 km/h and up to 350 km of range associated with that planned configuration. The manufacturer's published technical specifications for the electric Hector instead list a maximum speed of 70 km/h.

Ajax integration study

On 16 September 2026, ARX Robotics UK and General Dynamics Land Systems-UK announced collaboration to examine integration of Hector with Ajax. The work is intended to explore whether Ajax crews can command and coordinate robotic ground systems from within the armored vehicle.

The proposed integration uses the Ajax Generic Vehicle Architecture. The concept is intended to allow crews to assign tasks and control Hector for missions including reconnaissance, surveillance, protection and other battlefield support functions. The collaboration represents an integration study rather than confirmation that Hector has entered British Army service.

Design

Vehicle architecture

Hector is a wheeled medium-class ground vehicle with a modular chassis and attachment system. Its architecture is intended to support different payloads on the same basic platform, including sensors, logistics loads and effectors. Published information describes a load capacity of up to 500 kg and a towing capacity of up to 1,500 kg for the electric configuration.

The platform supports manual driving, remote operation and autonomous functions. Optional manning allows personnel to drive the vehicle directly when required, while teleoperation and supervised autonomy permit uncrewed operation farther into a mission area.

Control and autonomy

Hector uses ARX Robotics' Mithra OS on an onboard computing module. The software manages autonomous functions, navigation, convoy behavior, fleet management and interaction with other robotic platforms. Human-in-the-loop control remains part of the operating concept.

Published specifications give a control range of up to 4 km. The vehicle can also participate in convoy and platooning operations, allowing multiple crewed or uncrewed systems to operate in a coordinated formation.

The software-defined architecture is designed to support updates to autonomy functions, mission applications and payload integrations without requiring major changes to the vehicle hardware.

Sensors

Hector is equipped with cameras that include thermal night-vision capability. These sensors support operation in low-light conditions and can contribute to reconnaissance and remote driving tasks.

Powertrain

The published Hector specification describes an electric motor configuration with a maximum speed of 70 km/h. ARX Robotics has also described a combustion-engine version intended to provide greater range and higher road speed. Both configurations are presented as sharing the platform's modular architecture and software environment.

Program status

Hector was shown as a physical ground robotic system by December 2025 and was presented during 2026 as part of ARX Robotics' medium-class UGV offering. Available information describes the platform as suitable for reconnaissance, logistics, sensor carriage, effectors and other modular battlefield roles.

As of September 2026, the Ajax-related work is exploratory. The announced collaboration concerns technical integration and evaluation of Hector as a robotic teammate controlled through Ajax rather than confirmation of an operational British Army Hector fleet.

Variants

• Electric Hector: Fully electric configuration described with a 70 km/h maximum speed, up to 500 kg load capacity, up to 1,500 kg towing capacity and reduced acoustic and thermal signatures.
• Combustion-engine Hector: Longer-range configuration described with performance figures of up to 120 km/h and up to 350 km range. It is intended for missions emphasizing endurance and high-tempo mobility.

Specifications (Hector electric configuration)

General characteristics

• Type: Medium-class wheeled uncrewed ground vehicle with optional manning
• Powerplant: Electric motor
• Control modes: Manual, autonomous and optionally manned operation
• Control range: Up to 4 km
• Load capacity: Up to 500 kg
• Towing capacity: Up to 1,500 kg
• Mission equipment: Modular attachment system
• Cameras: Thermal night-vision capability
• Operating system: ARX Robotics Mithra OS

Performance

• Maximum speed: 70 km/h

Related equipment

Hector is being studied for integration with the British Army's Ajax armored vehicle family. The proposed concept would use Ajax as a command and control node for Hector and potentially other autonomous ground systems.