Rheinmetall is testing interconnected unmanned systems for port security at REPMUS26, a NATO exercise in Portugal. A containerised, relocatable system will serve as a command and control centre for the German Navy throughout the exercise, which runs from 31 August to 25 September.
The exercise, short for Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Unmanned Systems, takes place on the Troia Peninsula and in the surrounding Portuguese waters. Navies, research institutions and industry take part in the trials together. Rheinmetall has been involved since 2024 as a systems integrator for complex maritime systems.
A Mobile Hub for the German Navy at REPMUS26
The container-based setup provides a multidimensional operational picture covering both underwater and surface domains. It runs on Rheinmetall Battlesuite, which is built on the Tactical Core Middleware from blackned GmbH. The open architecture allows technology partners’ sensors, effectors and mission modules to be added as the application requires. Rheinmetall says the software links sensors from different manufacturers and improves interoperability among NATO partners.
Underwater Sensors Tested Through A Shared Interface
This year’s trials focus on unmanned underwater sensors from industry partners. The aim is to build a persistent operational picture and let operators control several unmanned systems of different types and from different manufacturers through a common user interface.
Rheinmetall argues that networking unmanned platforms, from the seabed to space, decides how well port facilities and coastal waters can be protected. In the company’s view, mission success depends less on the performance of individual platforms than on how seamlessly they are connected. Bringing all sensor data into one picture, it says, allows early situational awareness and graded responses.
Gregor Mannherz, head of the Rheinmetall delegation, said the exercise lets the company test its prototypes in realistic scenarios. Working with operational experts from naval customers and government agencies, he said, helps the company design its products and solutions more efficiently and speed up development.
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Source: C4Defence–Rheinmetall
