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Rheinmetall MV-8 Komodo

History

The Rheinmetall MV-8 Komodo is a heavy tracked unmanned ground vehicle intended for engineering, obstacle-reduction, reconnaissance, hazardous-environment, and other missions in which keeping personnel away from danger is important. The modular platform uses remote operation, a diesel-electric hybrid drive, and interchangeable mission equipment. Pasted text

The vehicle originated with Croatian company DOK-ING, whose earlier material identified the platform as the MVC8 Komodo. In 2026, Rheinmetall acquired a majority share of DOK-ING, and the former company continued as Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles. Current Rheinmetall material uses the designation MV-8 Komodo.

The platform has subsequently been developed for combat-engineering roles through cooperation involving Rheinmetall, DOK-ING technology, and Pearson Engineering. By September 2026, Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles was also testing a bridge-laying configuration fitted with the Cobra MLC 90 system.

Development

DOK-ING developed Komodo as a dual-use robotic system capable of working in hazardous conditions, including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear environments. Its mission set included reconnaissance, situational awareness, decontamination, firefighting, obstacle clearance, product control and mitigation, and automated collection of solid, liquid, gas, and vapor samples.

The platform was designed around modular front and rear attachments and a sensor suite that could be changed for different missions. This modular approach was later extended toward military engineering tasks such as breaching minefields, reducing obstacles, marking cleared lanes, and remotely placing bridges.

Bridge-laying development

In 2026, the MV-8 Komodo was tested with the Cobra MLC 90 bridge-laying system produced by General Dynamics European Land Systems. Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles identified the resulting configuration as the Unmanned Gap Crossing System, or UGCS.

The bridge system weighs approximately 5.3 tonnes. When deployed, the bridge is 15 m long and 3.75 m wide. It is rated for tracked vehicles weighing up to 81.7 tonnes and wheeled vehicles weighing up to 93.9 tonnes. The bridge is intended to span obstacles such as anti-tank ditches and natural gaps.

When carried in the folded position, the bridge system approximately doubles the vehicle's maximum silhouette height and overall length compared with the base Komodo, while increasing its width by about 0.6 m. The developer states that these dimensional changes do not reduce the platform's stated maximum speed, mobility, range, or other principal vehicle characteristics.

Design

The MV-8 Komodo is a tracked, remotely operated platform with a modular architecture intended to accept different mission systems. Rheinmetall describes the current military engineering configuration as supporting teleoperation and partial autonomy, while its open architecture is intended to permit further autonomous functions and network integration.

Powerplant and mobility

Komodo uses a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system. The hybrid arrangement is intended to support operation in demanding environments, including areas with low oxygen levels and high temperatures. Rheinmetall also identifies a silent operating mode among the platform's features.

In the documented base configuration with the CBRN mission module, gripper, and manipulator arm, the vehicle has a gross weight of approximately 17,000 kg. Maximum speed is limited to 30 km/h. Ground clearance is 0.34 m.

Remote control and sensors

The vehicle is controlled remotely through a data link with a stated line-of-sight operating distance of up to 1,500 m. Its hazardous-environment configuration can carry chemical and radiological detection equipment, temperature and oxygen sensors, explosive-gas detectors, lidar, a meteorological station, and advanced video equipment.

The CBRN mission package supports decontamination of objects, personnel, and surfaces, as well as partial self-decontamination. The vehicle can also collect solid, liquid, and gaseous samples using automated equipment.

Interchangeable equipment

A documented front blade and gripper assembly weighs approximately 1,200 kg. It is 2.3 m wide and 0.94 m high, with a length varying from 1.35 to 1.9 m. The claws open to 1.8 m and can rotate through 360 degrees. The blade has a stated pushing capacity of 10 tonnes, while the front attachment has a maximum lifting capacity of 2,000 kg.

A rear manipulator arm has a maximum lifting capacity of 990 kg and a maximum outreach of 4 m. These attachments allow the platform to manipulate objects and perform intervention tasks without exposing an onboard crew.

Combat engineering equipment

The military engineering configuration can be equipped for minefield breaching and obstacle reduction. Rheinmetall lists a mine-clearing plough, the Plofadder mine-clearing line charge, and a lane-marking system among the available engineering payloads. Self-defence options include a weapon station, smoke grenade launchers, and ballistic protection.

Other demonstrated integrations include the Skorpion 2 remote mine-laying system and the MANGART counter-drone system with a 25 mm cannon. These integrations illustrate the platform's ability to accept mission-specific equipment rather than defining a single standard combat configuration.

Program status

As of September 2026, the MV-8 Komodo remained a modular unmanned engineering platform undergoing continued integration and testing for multiple roles. The Cobra-equipped Unmanned Gap Crossing System was being tested as an unmanned bridge-laying configuration. The supplied material does not establish operational service entry or a production quantity for this configuration.

Variants

MVC8 Komodo: Earlier DOK-ING designation for the heavy tracked robotic platform, including configurations intended for CBRN response, reconnaissance, decontamination, firefighting, sample collection, and hazardous-environment intervention.
MV-8 Komodo: Current designation for the remotely operated modular engineering platform developed for military engineering and obstacle-reduction missions.
Unmanned Gap Crossing System: MV-8 Komodo bridge-layer configuration fitted with the Cobra MLC 90 bridge system and under testing in 2026.

Specifications (MV-8 Komodo base vehicle)

General characteristics

Gross vehicle weight: approximately 17,000 kg in the documented CBRN configuration with gripper and manipulator arm
Length: 7.2 m
Width: 2.3 m
Height: 2.9 m
Ground clearance: 0.34 m
Propulsion: diesel-electric hybrid
Control: remote operation with partial-autonomy capability