BLADE Submits Hunter WOLF Robot for US Army Last Tactical Mile Initiative
The U.S. Army selected six vendors in August for its Infantry Last Tactical Mile initiative, a prototype effort deploying robotic vehicles for resupply and casualty evacuation near front lines.
Hunter WOLF Enters Infantry Last Tactical Mile Initiative
The company confirmed that its six-wheeled diesel-electric hybrid robot, built specifically for light and dismounted infantry, is the vehicle it will field for the contest.
The program targets the heavily exposed ground between rear support units and the forward line of own troops. In this hazardous zone, soldiers moving ammunition forward or carrying wounded personnel back frequently come under direct fire.
The U.S. Army selected the six competing vendors through prototype Other Transaction Agreements. Alongside BLADE, the participant pool includes Maren-Go, Overland AI, Forterra, Hendrick’s Motorsports, and American Rheinmetall.
Hunter WOLF Carries Heavy Payloads Across Difficult Terrain
BLADE states that the Hunter WOLF can carry 2,800 pounds, equivalent to 1,270 kilograms, autonomously. The system navigates dense forests, climbs 60 percent grades, and crosses 40 percent side slopes. It also supplies electrical power to auxiliary equipment and accepts modular payloads ranging from cargo containers to casualty evacuation stretchers.
The manufacturer ranks the platform at Technology Readiness Level 9, the highest tier on the U.S. military scale. This designation signifies a system proven through actual field operations.
“The Hunter WOLF is engineered, manufactured, field-proven and ready to support warfighters in challenging contested environments,” said Tom Van Doren, president of robotics at BLADE.
Van Doren added that the platform is battle-tested and field-proven to serve as an effective solution for dangerous and logistically complex segments of the battlefield.
Army Units and International Forces Test Hunter WOLF
The Hunter WOLF has remained in active service since 2017 and received capability upgrades in 2025. BLADE conducted a series of evaluations with U.S. Army units throughout the year, including the 10th Mountain Division, the 101st Airborne Division, and an August event with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The vehicle has also supported the U.S. Marine Corps, Australian forces, and the Ukrainian army across more than 60 field exercises.
Earlier in May, the company delivered Hunter WOLF units to the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Polk under the U.S. Army’s Ground Optionally Autonomous Transport effort, training soldiers to operate and maintain the machines across multiple mission configurations.
Under the current initiative, all six participating vendors must deliver production-ready prototypes. These systems will undergo a sequence of demonstrations and assessments, culminating in an operational evaluation alongside an active Army unit in early 2027 to inform formal production decisions.