German automotive and arms manufacturer Rheinmetall announced that its Dutch subsidiary, Rheinmetall Defence Nederland, has acquired the startup REEQ, a manufacturer of lightweight tactical vehicles, for an undisclosed amount.
The acquisition expands the Rheinmetall Vehicle System Division’s portfolio to hybrid technology, with the REEQ military vehicles’ fully electric drive train drawing power from a mobile energy source geared for autonomous operation.
The REEQ vehicle lineup is composed of an unmanned ground vehicle and a utility train vehicle designed in a side-by-side buggy or a modular quad setup. According to Rheinmetall, the vehicles’ further development and series manufacturing will remain based in the Netherlands.
Rheinmetall said the REEQ acquisition provides it with the capability to offer both manned and unmanned tactical vehicle mobility to the Dutch and European markets. REEQ will retain its startup development status within the Rheinmetall Group, the company added.
Rheinmetall’s current uncrewed ground vehicle offerings include the Mission Master XT, the first order for which was delivered to the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment in August 2023.