IDV USA Selected to Develop Autonomous Breaching Vehicle for US Army
IDV USA has been selected as one of four industry participants to develop an autonomous vehicle platform capable of breaching minefields and other battlefield obstacles for the US Army.
Under the Engineer Autonomous Breaching Capability (EABC) initiative, the Leonardo company is offering its VIKING uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV), which can remotely or autonomously navigate and execute missions while carrying a range of payloads.
The VIKING is equipped with autonomy software that supports rapid integration of mission systems and payloads and navigation in contested and GNSS-degraded environments. IDV says the system provides a flexible foundation for future engineering and maneuver missions.
“We are honored to be selected by the U.S. Army for the EABC initiative,” IDV USA CEO Corey Kashner said.
“The EABC program aligns directly with IDV’s vision for autonomous systems and robotic maneuver support. By combining the proven VIKING UGV platform with our autonomy framework, we are delivering a solution designed to enhance mission effectiveness while reducing risks to soldiers.”
Autonomous Breaching Capability
The US Army already employs breaching tools including the M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle, mine plows, MICLIC, and conventional demolitions.
However, the army says current methods for route planning and minefield breaching are lacking, while legacy equipment such as MICLIC is no longer effective against evolving adversarial technology and can be time-consuming to deploy.
The EABC initiative seeks to add a capability that can rapidly breach complex obstacles and minefields while minimizing personnel exposure.
Other participants include Caterpillar, Forterra, and Overland AI, which received a $20-million contract for the program last week.
The project will proceed through demonstrations and assessments before a Transformation in Contact unit assessment in early 2027. The assessment will inform the army’s production decision for next-generation autonomous engineering systems.
VIKING UGV
The VIKING is a 6×6 uncrewed ground vehicle with a 750-kilogram (1,653-pound) payload capacity and a configurable payload area for different mission systems.
Its series-hybrid diesel-electric powertrain provides up to 30 kilometers (19 miles) of electric-only range and more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) in hybrid mode, with a maximum speed of 45 kilometers (28 miles) per hour.
The UGV also features independent suspension, 300-millimeter ground clearance, and the ability to negotiate 350-millimeter steps and slopes of up to 60 percent.
Its MACE autonomy system supports remote control, teleoperation, and autonomous functions, including route following, reconnaissance, surveying, and obstacle avoidance.
