Military vehicles are designed for long service lives. Many platforms remain in service for decades and are modernized several times during that period. At the same time, their missions—and thus the requirements for vehicle architecture—are changing: teleoperation, autonomous driving functions, and connected modes of operation require that vehicles not only communicate digitally but can also be controlled digitally.
For OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, system integrators, and operators, retrofitting is therefore increasingly becoming an architectural challenge. It is no longer sufficient to simply integrate additional sensors, communication systems, or electronic components into an existing platform. As soon as new forms of vehicle control are added, the steering, brakes, and powertrain must also be electronically controllable in a safe and reliable manner.
This is precisely where drive-by-wire expands the possibilities for modernization. The technology establishes the electronic connection between digital driving functions and the vehicle’s actual motion functions. This allows existing platforms to be adapted for new capabilities without necessarily having to develop an entirely new generation of vehicles. As a result, drive-by-wire is evolving from an individual retrofit project into the technological foundation for the gradual digitization of heterogeneous defense fleets.
Existing platforms have different requirements than new developments
In a newly developed vehicle, the electrical system, communication systems, control units, sensors, and actuators can be designed together from the outset. Digital controllability is an integral part of the vehicle architecture. With an existing platform, the starting point is fundamentally different.
Integration must account for existing electrical systems, existing bus systems, and mechanical or hydraulic actuators for steering, braking, and propulsion. Depending on the vehicle, actuators, sensors, electronic signal paths, and communication interfaces must therefore be integrated into an existing architecture.
For developers and integrators, this results in a complex system challenge: The new electronic control system must work together with the existing vehicle technology while also ensuring defined behavior even in the event of faults. Retrofit is therefore far more than the retroactive installation of individual components. It is the integration of a safety-critical control architecture under the real-world constraints of the respective platform.
Scalable Architecture Instead of a One-Off Solution
Defense fleets, in particular, are technically heterogeneous. Wheeled and tracked vehicles, different weight classes, various platform generations, as well as diesel, “ ” hybrid, and electric powertrains must be operated and further developed in parallel. An economically scalable modernization can therefore hardly be based on developing a completely new drive-by-wire solution for each vehicle type.
Arnold NextG’s technical approach consists of separating a reusable, safety-critical control core from platform-specific integration. NX NextMotion is designed as an open, manufacturer-independent drive-by-wire platform. The architecture can be integrated into various wheeled and tracked vehicles as well as different drive concepts. Steering, braking, and propulsion are integrated into a digital control architecture via electronic interfaces.
This creates the foundation for various forms of vehicle control—ranging from manual driving to teleoperation and autonomous functions, all the way to coupled applications such as platooning. The key distinction here is that reusability does not mean plug-and-play. Each target platform requires its own technical interface, parameterization, and evaluation. Vehicle communication, actuators, the electrical system, and mechanical requirements differ from platform to platform. Integration can, for example, utilize existing communication structures such as CAN, but must always be tailored to the specific vehicle.
Safety must be considered across the entire control path
With the electronic control of steering, braking, and propulsion, functions that are directly relevant to the vehicle’s controllability are being digitized. Accordingly, it is not sufficient to simply design a control unit with redundancy. Signal transmission, actuators, sensors, communication, and power supply must be considered as an integrated system.
The goal is to ensure that a single fault does not lead to an uncontrolled loss of vehicle control. To this end, NX NextMotion incorporates an architectural foundation into the integration process that was developed in accordance with relevant functional safety and cybersecurity requirements. For OEMs and integrators, this represents a key difference from a project-specific, standalone solution: fundamental mechanisms for safe electronic vehicle control do not have to be completely redeveloped from scratch for every new platform.
Nevertheless, the specific overall vehicle assessment always depends on the target platform, the scope of integration, and the intended use. Retrofittability is thus a characteristic of the architecture—not a universally transferable vehicle approval.
From Digital Connectivity to New Vehicle Capabilities
The actual added value of such a retrofit architecture therefore lies not solely in the digitization of a single vehicle. If the same safety-oriented control approach is applied across multiple platforms, it creates a technical foundation for the gradual modernization of heterogeneous fleets. This also changes the perspective on future capabilities.
Teleoperation, autonomous driving functions, or platooning do not necessarily have to be tied to a new generation of vehicles. They can be integrated wherever the necessary technical prerequisites are met—including on existing platforms. For operators, this means being able to further develop the functionality of existing vehicles throughout their remaining service life . For OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, this creates an architectural foundation upon which new digital functions can be built. System integrators can focus their customization efforts more on the specific vehicle connectivity rather than having to redevelop the basic control architecture for each platform.
Retrofit thus becomes a strategic architectural decision
The global market for upgrades and retrofits of armored vehicles was valued at approximately $6.46 billion in 2025. Growth of about 4.5 percent was expected for 2026. Behind this trend lies a long-term goal: to extend the service life of existing fleets while equipping them with new digital capabilities. For the technical implementation, therefore, it will not be decisive solely which new function can be demonstrated on a vehicle. What matters is whether the underlying architecture is scalable.
A retrofittable drive-by-wire platform bridges the gap between existing vehicle technology and new forms of digital vehicle control. This transforms a single retrofit project into a foundation for the modernization of entire vehicle families and fleets.
NX NextMotion creates the conditions for making existing platforms digitally controllable—with a reusable, safety-critical control core and platform-specific integration.
WE CONTROL WHAT MOVES
Source for market classification:
Armored Vehicle Upgrade and Retrofit Market Report 2026, Research and Markets.
For OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, system integrators, and operators, retrofitting is therefore increasingly becoming an architectural challenge. It is no longer sufficient to simply integrate additional sensors, communication systems, or electronic components into an existing platform. As soon as new forms of vehicle control are added, the steering, brakes, and powertrain must also be electronically controllable in a safe and reliable manner.
This is precisely where drive-by-wire expands the possibilities for modernization. The technology establishes the electronic connection between digital driving functions and the vehicle’s actual motion functions. This allows existing platforms to be adapted for new capabilities without necessarily having to develop an entirely new generation of vehicles. As a result, drive-by-wire is evolving from an individual retrofit project into the technological foundation for the gradual digitization of heterogeneous defense fleets.
Existing platforms have different requirements than new developments
In a newly developed vehicle, the electrical system, communication systems, control units, sensors, and actuators can be designed together from the outset. Digital controllability is an integral part of the vehicle architecture. With an existing platform, the starting point is fundamentally different.
Integration must account for existing electrical systems, existing bus systems, and mechanical or hydraulic actuators for steering, braking, and propulsion. Depending on the vehicle, actuators, sensors, electronic signal paths, and communication interfaces must therefore be integrated into an existing architecture.
For developers and integrators, this results in a complex system challenge: The new electronic control system must work together with the existing vehicle technology while also ensuring defined behavior even in the event of faults. Retrofit is therefore far more than the retroactive installation of individual components. It is the integration of a safety-critical control architecture under the real-world constraints of the respective platform.
Scalable Architecture Instead of a One-Off Solution
Defense fleets, in particular, are technically heterogeneous. Wheeled and tracked vehicles, different weight classes, various platform generations, as well as diesel, “ ” hybrid, and electric powertrains must be operated and further developed in parallel. An economically scalable modernization can therefore hardly be based on developing a completely new drive-by-wire solution for each vehicle type.
Arnold NextG’s technical approach consists of separating a reusable, safety-critical control core from platform-specific integration. NX NextMotion is designed as an open, manufacturer-independent drive-by-wire platform. The architecture can be integrated into various wheeled and tracked vehicles as well as different drive concepts. Steering, braking, and propulsion are integrated into a digital control architecture via electronic interfaces.
This creates the foundation for various forms of vehicle control—ranging from manual driving to teleoperation and autonomous functions, all the way to coupled applications such as platooning. The key distinction here is that reusability does not mean plug-and-play. Each target platform requires its own technical interface, parameterization, and evaluation. Vehicle communication, actuators, the electrical system, and mechanical requirements differ from platform to platform. Integration can, for example, utilize existing communication structures such as CAN, but must always be tailored to the specific vehicle.
Safety must be considered across the entire control path
With the electronic control of steering, braking, and propulsion, functions that are directly relevant to the vehicle’s controllability are being digitized. Accordingly, it is not sufficient to simply design a control unit with redundancy. Signal transmission, actuators, sensors, communication, and power supply must be considered as an integrated system.
The goal is to ensure that a single fault does not lead to an uncontrolled loss of vehicle control. To this end, NX NextMotion incorporates an architectural foundation into the integration process that was developed in accordance with relevant functional safety and cybersecurity requirements. For OEMs and integrators, this represents a key difference from a project-specific, standalone solution: fundamental mechanisms for safe electronic vehicle control do not have to be completely redeveloped from scratch for every new platform.
Nevertheless, the specific overall vehicle assessment always depends on the target platform, the scope of integration, and the intended use. Retrofittability is thus a characteristic of the architecture—not a universally transferable vehicle approval.
From Digital Connectivity to New Vehicle Capabilities
The actual added value of such a retrofit architecture therefore lies not solely in the digitization of a single vehicle. If the same safety-oriented control approach is applied across multiple platforms, it creates a technical foundation for the gradual modernization of heterogeneous fleets. This also changes the perspective on future capabilities.
Teleoperation, autonomous driving functions, or platooning do not necessarily have to be tied to a new generation of vehicles. They can be integrated wherever the necessary technical prerequisites are met—including on existing platforms. For operators, this means being able to further develop the functionality of existing vehicles throughout their remaining service life . For OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, this creates an architectural foundation upon which new digital functions can be built. System integrators can focus their customization efforts more on the specific vehicle connectivity rather than having to redevelop the basic control architecture for each platform.
Retrofit thus becomes a strategic architectural decision
The global market for upgrades and retrofits of armored vehicles was valued at approximately $6.46 billion in 2025. Growth of about 4.5 percent was expected for 2026. Behind this trend lies a long-term goal: to extend the service life of existing fleets while equipping them with new digital capabilities. For the technical implementation, therefore, it will not be decisive solely which new function can be demonstrated on a vehicle. What matters is whether the underlying architecture is scalable.
A retrofittable drive-by-wire platform bridges the gap between existing vehicle technology and new forms of digital vehicle control. This transforms a single retrofit project into a foundation for the modernization of entire vehicle families and fleets.
NX NextMotion creates the conditions for making existing platforms digitally controllable—with a reusable, safety-critical control core and platform-specific integration.
WE CONTROL WHAT MOVES
Source for market classification:
Armored Vehicle Upgrade and Retrofit Market Report 2026, Research and Markets.
