---
title: "Rheinmetall conducted field tests of an unmanned bridge-laying complex based on the MV-8 Komodo in Croatia"
description: "Rheinmetall UV conducted two rounds of field testing of the heavy robotic complex MV-8 Komodo with the Cobra MLC 90 bridge and the autonomous PATH A-Kit package in Croatia. The full cycle of testing of the bridge system is planned to be completed in the autumn of 2026."
date: 2026-09-23T08:50:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/rheinmetall-komodo-unmanned-bridge-laying-complex-croatia-tests
tags: [rheinmetall, unmanned-ground-vehicle, komodo, bridge-crossing, croatia, military-technology, path-a-kit, gdels]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Rheinmetall conducted field tests of an unmanned bridge-laying complex based on the MV-8 Komodo in Croatia

![Rheinmetall MV-8 Komodo-based unmanned bridging complex with tracked chassis during trials in Croatia](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/23/rheinmetall-komodo-mosstovoy-kompleks-ispytaniya-horvatiya/rheinmetall-komodo-mosstovoy-kompleks-ispytaniya-horvatiya-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Rheinmetall UV conducted two rounds of field testing of the MV-8 Komodo with the Cobra MLC 90 bridge at ranges in Croatia
- The 15-metre Cobra bridge allows vehicles up to 93.9 tonnes to be ferried; deployment takes about 2 minutes
- One operator controls both the robot and the bridge from a single console at a range of up to 1.5 km
- Rheinmetall's Canadian division tested the autonomous PATH A-Kit package with LIDAR and radar
- The completion of the bridge system testing is expected in the autumn of 2026

Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles, established on the basis of the Croatian manufacturer DOK-ING, has completed two rounds of field testing of the heavy ground robotic complex MV-8 Komodo, equipped with a bridge-laying system. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the Croatian military-technical publication Hrvatski vojnik. The tests were carried out on Croatian territory with the direct support of the country's Ministry of Defence and the Croatian Ground Forces, underscoring the strategic importance of the project for the region's defence infrastructure.

### The Cobra Bridge: Specifications and Tactical Capabilities

The first stage of testing took place at the "Cеровac" engineering range near the city of Karlovac. During the trials, the Komodo complex tested the Cobra bridge manufactured by General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS). The structure has a military load class of MLC 90, allowing it to ferry tracked vehicles weighing up to 81.7 tonnes and wheeled vehicles up to 93.9 tonnes. The deployed 15-metre-long bridge is designed to cross small rivers, ditches, canals and craters 8 to 14 metres wide. According to the developer GDELS, the approximate deployment time of the bridge is about two minutes from the moment the complex arrives at the crossing site.

### One Operator — Two Objects: The Key Feature of the System

Rheinmetall UV describes the development as an "unmanned gap crossing system." The key feature is that both the Komodo robot itself and the Cobra bridge are controlled remotely from a single console by one operator. The remote-control range in the optical line-of-sight zone is approximately 1.5 kilometres. According to the company's engineers, despite the vehicle's dimensions increasing by almost half in height and length due to the integration of the bridge module, the maximum speed of the hybrid diesel-electric drive remained at 55 km/h, and the other tactical and technical characteristics were unchanged.

### PATH A-Kit: Autonomous Control Without GPS

The second stage of testing was dedicated to the PATH A-Kit autonomous control package, developed by Rheinmetall's Canadian division. Testing was conducted at the "Eugen Kvaternik" range near Slunj. The system, originally created for civilian cargo convoys, allows the Komodo to follow designated routes, move in a column, record and repeat traversed trajectories, and automatically detect and bypass obstacles. Navigation is provided by a suite of sensors — GPS, LIDAR and radar — and the system remains operational even in the absence of a satellite navigation signal. According to Rheinmetall engineers, during the tests PATH A-Kit demonstrated reliable performance in all scenarios.

### Context: The Growing Role of Ground Robots in Combat Operations

The testing of the Komodo with the bridge module fits into a broader trend of integrating ground robotic complexes into combat and logistical operations. At the end of August 2026, during the parade marking the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence, 30 Ukrainian robotic complexes of six models marched for the first time down Kyiv's Khreshchatyk street. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence reported that since the beginning of 2026, the robots had carried out more than 100,000 logistical and evacuation missions. Meanwhile, other partners are also showing interest in the remote control of ground robots: in particular, the United Kingdom is considering the possibility of using Ajax armoured vehicles to control ground operations on the battlefield. Rheinmetall UV expects to complete the full cycle of testing of the bridge system in the autumn of 2026.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Croatian Komodo robotic complex from Rheinmetall learned to lay bridges: test results](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/horvatskiy-nrk-komodo-vid-rheinmetall-navchivsya-1790153127.html) - Первичный источник с детальным описанием обоих этапов испытаний, характеристиками моста Cobra и системы PATH A-Kit. Ссылка на Hrvatski vojnik как первоисточник.
- [Rheinmetall tested an unmanned bridge-laying complex](https://korrespondent.net/tech/technews/4914150-Rheinmetall-yspytal-bespylotnyi-kompleks-dlia-navedenyia-mostov) - Независимая перепечатка/переработка материала с теми же ключевыми фактами: полигон Церовац, мост Cobra MLC 90, PATH A-Kit, сроки завершения испытаний.
- [German company Rheinmetall tested an unmanned bridge-laying system](https://ua.news/ru/world/nimetska-rheinmetall-viprobuvala-bezekipazhnu-sistemu-navedennia-mostiv) - Третья публикация, подтверждающая основные параметры: 15-метровый мост, скорость 55 км/ч, дальность управления 1,5 км, два этапа тестирования.
- [Rheinmetall випробував безпілотний комплекс для наведення мостів](https://ua.korrespondent.net/tech/technews/4914150-Rheinmetall-vyprobuvav-bezpilotnyi-kompleks-dlia-navedennia-mostiv) - Независимая перепечатка/переработка материала с теми же ключевыми фактами: полигон Церовац, мост Cobra MLC 90, PATH A-Kit, сроки завершения испытаний.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What is the MV-8 Komodo and who manufactures it?
**A:** The MV-8 Komodo is a heavy ground robotic complex developed by Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles on the basis of the Croatian manufacturer DOK-ING. The vehicle is equipped with a hybrid diesel-electric drive with a maximum speed of 55 km/h.

### Q: What are the specifications of the Cobra bridge integrated into the Komodo?
**A:** The Cobra bridge manufactured by GDELS has a load class of MLC 90 (tracked vehicles up to 81.7 tonnes, wheeled up to 93.9 tonnes), a length of 15 metres, and is designed to cross obstacles 8–14 metres wide. Deployment takes about two minutes.

### Q: What is PATH A-Kit and where was it tested?
**A:** PATH A-Kit is an autonomous control package developed by Rheinmetall's Canadian division. It allows the robot to follow routes, move in a column, record trajectories and bypass obstacles using GPS, LIDAR and radar. Testing was conducted at the "Eugen Kvaternik" range near Slunj (Croatia).

### Q: When is the completion of all testing planned?
**A:** Rheinmetall UV expects to complete the full cycle of testing of the bridge system in the autumn of 2026.