Rheinmetall has successfully deployed its cutting-edge Mission Master unmanned ground vehicle in Portugal, contributing to NATO’s latest unmanned systems exercise, which emphasizes innovation in defense technology. The operational drill, known as the Operational Exercise Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Unmanned Systems (OPEX REPMUS 2025) and Dynamic Messenger (DYMS), provided a platform for showcasing the capabilities of the Mission Master, particularly in challenging coastal environments.
During the exercise, Rheinmetall demonstrated the versatility of the Mission Master, highlighting its autonomous navigation capabilities, modular payload integration, and robust performance across various operational tasks including reconnaissance, surveillance, and logistics. The vehicle seamlessly integrated with NATO-standard command-and-control systems, enhancing its operational effectiveness.
The incorporation of operator-in-the-loop tools allowed military personnel to intuitively manage distributed autonomous assets, which aligns with Rheinmetall’s commitment to delivering solutions emphasizing operational relevance and tactical utility.
Organized collaboratively by the Portuguese Navy, NATO, and the European Defence Agency, the exercise sought to emphasize collaboration, interoperability, and operational integration across multiple domains, including maritime, undersea, airborne, and ground-based sectors. The event attracted allied military forces, academic institutions, and industry stakeholders in Troia and Sesimbra, aiming to evaluate autonomous platforms under realistic mission conditions.
Gregor Mannherz, Marine Systems Sales Manager at Rheinmetall Electronics, expressed pride in the event’s outcome, stating, “The Mission Master has impressively demonstrated how technology and integration can effectively support our defense partners.”
REPMUS/DYMS 2025 served as a central hub for testing multi-domain unmanned systems, reinforcing NATO’s interoperability goals. Alongside Rheinmetall, companies like EvoLogics, North.io, and Euroatlas participated, each contributing their unmanned undersea, aerial, and ground platforms connected through Battlesuite, a shared information space designed to eliminate data silos and facilitate the rapid integration of mission-ready capabilities.
The exercise emphasized scalable, software-defined solutions for various applications, including expeditionary harbor protection, coastal defense, and manned-unmanned teaming. It validated critical procedures for the operational integration of unmanned vehicles, showcasing live scenarios where autonomous ground, aerial, and maritime systems operated in unison. This collaborative approach allowed NATO and its industry partners to accelerate development cycles and refine tactical doctrines, laying the groundwork for future operations.
