Digital Defense Reinvented: Daimler Truck and ARX Robotics Unite for Next-Gen Military Vehicles

Daimler Truck and ARX Robotics plan partnership in the field of defense mobility; Daimler Truck und ARX Robotics planen Partnerschaft im Bereich Defence-Mobilität

(IN BRIEF) Daimler Truck and ARX Robotics have signed a letter of intent to collaborate on integrating advanced robotics and AI into Mercedes‑Benz Special Trucks’ military vehicle platforms, specifically targeting the Unimog and Zetros series. Utilizing ARX Robotics’ Mithra OS, the partnership aims to improve networking capabilities, enable teleoperation and autonomous driving in open terrain, and introduce functionalities such as optimized route planning, remote landmine clearance, and safe evacuation of injured personnel. With plans to initially retrofit Zetros prototypes and later extend to Unimog and existing fleets, this initiative is poised to modernize the defense vehicle sector and strengthen European defense competitiveness by harnessing cutting-edge digital technologies.

(PRESS RELEASE) LEINFELDEN-ECHTERDINGEN, 28-Mar-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Daimler Truck and ARX Robotics have entered into a strategic agreement to elevate digital networking and operational capabilities within the defense vehicle sector. Under a recently signed letter of intent, the two companies plan to integrate advanced robotics and artificial intelligence into military vehicle platforms, specifically enhancing the Unimog and Zetros series produced by the Mercedes‑Benz Special Trucks division. By incorporating ARX Robotics’ innovative Mithra OS operating system, these vehicles will soon be able to connect seamlessly with other software-defined systems, facilitating teleoperation, autonomous driving in open terrain, and a host of new functionalities.

This collaboration focuses on outfitting the vehicles with state-of-the-art sensor modules, cameras, and radio systems, all coordinated by the ARX Core— a central computing and networking unit. This system is designed to enable real-time object recognition, rapid data processing, and efficient decision-making, which will empower the vehicles to autonomously determine optimal routes, conduct remote landmine clearance, and evacuate injured personnel without endangering crew members.

Daniel Zittel, Head of Defence Sales at Mercedes‑Benz Special Trucks, explained that the initiative is part of a broader investment in the defense sector, aimed at better addressing customer needs through specialized, digitalized solutions. He emphasized that digitalization and AI are critical for enhancing cyber defense, logistics, and international military collaboration. Marc Wietfeld, co-founder and CEO of ARX Robotics, added that a software-defined approach is essential for modern land forces to operate as a cohesive, networked unit within NATO.

The initial phase of this partnership involves equipping Mercedes‑Benz Zetros prototypes with these digital systems, with subsequent plans to extend the integration to Unimog vehicles and retrofit existing legacy fleets. This dual strategy is designed to accelerate the digital transformation of military vehicles and reinforce the competitiveness of the European defense industry.

About ARX Robotics

ARX Robotics is one of the leading German defence tech start-ups. The company develops autonomous unmanned ground systems with scalable hardware components and software architectures. With its innovative, modular platforms, ARX Robotics uses software-defined defence and robotics to redesign productivity, efficiency and safety in various industries. With its Mithra OS system, ARX digitizes existing military systems and vehicle fleets and transforms them into software and AI-supported, networked systems. ARX systems are currently being procured or tested by six European armed forces. ARX Robotics is supported by renowned investors such as Project A Ventures and the Nato Innovation Fund.

About Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks

Within Daimler Truck, Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks is the business unit for special vehicles and is responsible for the defence business as well as for the firefighting and disaster relief vehicle segments, among others. Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks offers a wide range of complete vehicles for military applications, from the high-terrain Unimog and Zetros to the Atego, Actros and Arocs truck series and heavy-duty tractor units. At the production sites in Wörth am Rhein and Molsheim (France), Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks produces large quantities for large orders and also implements individual customer requests.

Media contacts:

Lukas Hettmannsperger
Spokesperson Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks
lukas.hettmannsperger​@daimlertruck.com
+49 170 3871112

Ulrike Burkhart
Spokesperson Mercedes-Benz Trucks Product, Service & eTruck
ulrike.burkhart​@daimlertruck.com
+49 160 861 3757

SOURCE: Daimler Truck AG