„Partnerships made in Germany“
Some are forging ahead with innovative technologies and rapid development cycles. Others have built extensive manufacturing capacities and service networks over the course of decades. When emerging startups and established corporations come together to combine the best of both worlds, something great can emerge. ARX Robotics and Deutz AG likely hope for mutual growth, having formally established their strategic partnership just before Christmas.
Fundamentally, it was a rather formal act. However, the stage chosen for the formal signing of the strategic partnership by ARX Robotics and Deutz AG was special. During the Defense-Tech Roundtable at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and in the presence of Minister Katherina Reiche, both companies publicly formalized what had already been announced two months earlier. After Deutz acquired SOBEK, a leading manufacturer of driving systems for drones, in early September, the internationally successful engine manufacturer participated in a financing round for ARX Robotics. The manufacturer of unmanned ground vehicles for military and security authorities has been supplying its in-house Gereon family of UGVs to the Ukrainian armed forces for some time and is collaborating with the startup Helsing to develop a combined operational network of unmanned systems on land and in the air. Recently, ARX also introduced the new model Hector, a transport and reconnaissance platform that can also be used for manned operation.
The strategically announced partnership aims to integrate Deutz’s driving systems into the unmanned ground vehicles of ARX Robotics. „Unmanned and semi-autonomous defense systems are set to play an increasingly critical and central role for armed forces of the future. That is why we are combining ARX Robotics’ leading software and robotics expertise with our strengths in drive systems, decentralized energy supply, and industrial production,” states Deutz CEO Dr. Sebastian Schulte. „These types of partnerships ‘made in Germany’ are what we need to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities for the long term.” While Deutz strengthens its position in unmanned military technology, ARX benefits from Deutz AG’s manufacturing capabilities and global service network. „Working with Deutz, we are combining the intelligence of our Mithra OS platform and vehicle systems with high-quality drive systems, mobile energy, and industrial manufacturing“, explains Marc Wietfeld, Co-Founder and CEO of ARX Robotics. „This will enable us to deliver unmanned systems to troops more quickly, increase availability and reliability during deployment, and to create the basis for scaling up in Europe. Our remit remains unchanged: protect soldiers, help to streamline logistics, and build up extensive capabilities.”
Images: Deutz AG, Photothek Media Lab/Amrei Schulz
