Kratos Unmanned Systems Division Self-Driving Truck Leader Follower Platoon Fleet to Be Deployed in Ohio and Indiana

SAN DIEGO, March 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a Technology Company in the Defense, National Security and Global Markets, announced today that it will be deploying self-driving Class 8 tractor/trailers in a Leader Follower 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 Follower 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 follower 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 Follower Platooning operation. The system will be integrated as part of normal 24/7 supply chain activity hauling freight in 53-foot dry van trailers on short-haul routes for round-trip totals of 450 to 500 miles.

Leader Follower Platoon Fleet

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/581219fd-129c-4d43 ...

Maynard Factor, VP of Business Development for the Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, said, “Kratos is excited to team with EASE Logistics to support this landmark Leader Follower Platoon deployment establishing the baseline for how driverless technology can be deployed in a game-changing configuration. The Leader Follower Platoon is a great adaptation of driverless vehicle technology that maintains driver jobs by pairing a human-driven truck with a self-driving follower truck to maintain or increase haul capacity depending on the available driver pool. Supply chain security is national security and using the Kratos Leader Follower Platoon is a solution that can strengthen a company’s ability to maintain jobs and secure supply chain activity as a win-win.”