Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. announced that it will be deploying self-driving Class 8 tractor/trailers in a Leader followers Platoon hauling customer freight shipments along revenue generating routes in Ohio and Indiana. The Kratos Unmanned Systems Division is under contract to deploy its self-driving platooning technology later this year between Ohio and Indiana along a major trucking corridor. Teamed with EASE Logistics, a third-party logistics (3PL) company that provides services to automotive, aerospace, food & beverage, and major manufacturing companies, the Leader F followers Platoon will be a first-of-its kind deployment to address driver shortage impacts by enabling business continuity when qualified drivers are unavailable.

The leader and followers trucks were provided by EASE Logistics who will also provide a highly qualified driver for the leader truck and a Safety Rider onboard the self-driving follower truck who can take over manual driving control at any time. The trucks were retrofitted by Kratos with self-driving technology to enable the Leader F followers Platooning operation. The system will be integrated as part of normal 24/7 supply chain activityhauling freight in 53-foot dry van trailers on short-haul routes for round-trip totals of 450 to 500 miles.

The Leader F followers Platoon Fleet is a great adaptation of driverless vehicle technology that maintains driver jobs by pairing a human-driven truck with a self-driving followers truck to maintain or increase haul capacity depending on the available driver pool. Supply chain security is national security and using the Kratos Leader F followers Platoon is a solution that can strengthen a company's ability to maintain jobs and secure supply chain activity as a win-win." The Leader F followers Platoon consists of a human-driven Leader truck transmitting navigation and command data to a F followers truck enabled with self-driving technology. The technology enabling the deployment was adapted from systems Kratos originally developed for the U.S. Department of Defense leveraging proven architectures, advanced cyber security, and robust environmental hardening.

The Leader F followers Pl Sask will be deployed with drivers from EASE Logistics who have completed an extensive and comprehensive training program conducted by Kratos.