One bomb-disposal robot can lift more than 250 pounds near its chassis while maintaining a standoff distance for its operator. This is at the heart of an agreement between the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps for 34 large T7 robots, and it illustrates how the field of explosive ordnance disposal is being driven as much by human-machine interface considerations as by strength.
The T7 is designed for those situations where an EOD unit needs to approach an unknown device in a limited visibility area. The tracked design is meant to overcome typical obstacles such as stairs, and a multi-camera system is supposed to assist the operator in maintaining situational awareness without putting personnel in the danger area.
However, what distinguishes the platform within the larger context of unmanned adoption is not the lack of autonomy but control fidelity. The system’s haptic controller provides “touch” to the operator via vibration, which is a cue set that may have significance when working with wires, fasteners, or disruptor tools in awkward positions. Essentially, this feedback mechanism is important in ensuring that fine motor skills are effectively translated into remote control. The T7 manipulator has a reach and lift capability that is combined with quick-change components, which support different mission sets without requiring a different vehicle. The service agreement also includes training that correlates the machine’s capabilities with repeatable procedures, which is important when a number of units are involved with different levels of experience.
The Navy-Marine purchase also occurs in a procurement context that is growing to favor systems that can be deployed relatively quickly and maintained without customized logistics chains. In FY 2026 planning, unmanned system priorities within DoD have been to favor platforms that are relatively low-cost, modular, and deployable relatively quickly, with open architecture approaches framed as a means of maintaining interoperability among diverse fleets.
In the case of the T7, these values manifest less as an “experimental” robot and more as a workhorse robot. L3Harris states that the robot has an automotive-grade track system and a controller designed to reduce cognitive load—both of which impact availability rates as much as they impact performance on a single mission.
The Navy and Marine Corps order also follows the Air Force’s earlier transition to the same series of robots. In 2021, the Air Force placed a significant order for T7 robots for its EOD program, with deliveries starting the next year; L3Harris later described a 10-year IDIQ framework and stated that 107 robots had been ordered to date under the program.
The company has also supplied T7 robot systems internationally, including a contract to replace an aging EOD vehicle fleet in the United Kingdom. In the services, large EOD robots are now being seen as a safety and capability floor rather than a specialty item. The engineering tale is that improved lift, endurance, and sensor clarity are only valuable in conjunction with operator trust, which is established through interface design, training, and supportability. This is where the Navy and Marine Corps investment puts its money.
