Rheinmetall and Breaker bring human machine teaming to armored vehicles
Rheinmetall and Breaker have signed a teaming agreement to bring human machine teaming to armored vehicles. Breaker's tactical orchestration agent will be integrated into the Australian Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle through the platform's open architecture. The crew will be able to command teams of autonomous systems by voice1.
The partnership has already shown it works. In a demonstration to the customer, a Boxer crew member commanded a swarm of drones by voice while operating the vehicle and doing their regular duties1.
We're thrilled to be partnering with Rheinmetall on the next generation of armoured vehicle operations. Boxer is a tested, validated, and integrated capability and Breaker's tactical orchestration layer allows crews to work with teams of robots in a way they've never been able to before. This integration makes the Boxer more lethal and more survivable in the future fight with less crew. It makes every vehicle the centre of its own autonomous formation.
Michael Irwin, Co-founder and Co-CEO, Breaker
What the demonstration showed
The crew member had less than 30 minutes of training. They commanded the drones through the standard-issue microphone and headset already fitted to the Boxer, with no new screen or controller in the vehicle1. The demonstration gave clear evidence that crewed and uncrewed systems can work together and keep soldiers safer on the front line.
That is the change the partnership brings to armored operations. Robots extend the Boxer's reach and situational awareness without adding personnel. The crew is reinforced by a team of machines and stays focused on the mission.
Integrating platforms with autonomy solutions is about enhancing crew survivability and mission effectiveness. What we've been able to demonstrate with Breaker, after only six months of working together, is a Boxer operator controlling autonomous systems with their voice as they would talk to any member of their crew.
Nathan Poyner, Managing Director, Rheinmetall Defence Australia
Six months from first conversation
The two companies moved quickly. Breaker's software was running in Rheinmetall Defence Australia's simulator within weeks. A working capability was demonstrated on the Boxer within six months of the first conversation1.
Open architecture made that pace possible. The Boxer exposes a standard interface, and Avalon is built to sit on any platform without changes to its design. Poyner described the integration of new force multipliers on the Boxer as "essentially 'plug and play'"1.
A platform built to last
The Boxer CRV is the most advanced land platform in service with the Australian Army. Under LAND 400 Phase 2, awarded in 2018, Rheinmetall is delivering 211 of the vehicles, which are expected to stay in service for the next 30 years1.
A software upgrade can keep that fleet ahead of a fast-changing battlefield. The partnership also has the potential to extend beyond the Boxer CRV, to other capabilities and vehicle types in Australia and around the world1.
This partnership shows how important it is for like-minded companies to work together. The world of warfare is changing very quickly. Collaboration is the only way to deliver capability at the speed of relevance. Warfighters at the front line need autonomy the most, and they have it the least. Our mission is to change that.
Michael Irwin, Co-founder and Co-CEO, Breaker
- 1 Rheinmetall, "Rheinmetall and Breaker join forces to bring Human Machine Teaming to armoured vehicles", press release, 6 October 2026. ↩