View source for Rhino

{{Article status
 |status=Upcoming Content
 |mode=Live
 |version=Announced for 2 September 2026; page reflects official pre-release information available on 29 August 2026
 |reviewed=2026-08-29
 |reviewer=Sythan
 |source_quality=Official Frontier announcement and August 2026 developer log
 |uncertainty=Gameplay values and launch behaviour may change before or after release.
 |notes=The Rhino has been announced by Frontier Developments and is scheduled for release on 2 September 2026. Information on this page is based on official pre-release material and may change before or after release.
}}
{{Article header|section=Ships & Equipment|context=Ships|deck=Upcoming large Surface Recon Vehicle built for surface mining.}}
{{SRV infobox
 |name = Rhino
 |manufacturer = [[Vodel]], a Core Dynamics subsidiary
 |vehicle_type = [[Surface Recon Vehicles|Surface Recon Vehicle]]
 |primary_role = [[Surface Mining|Surface mining]]
 |crew = Up to three Commanders
 |hangar = [[Large Planetary Vehicle Hangar]]
 |release = Scheduled for 2 September 2026
 |availability = ARX Early Access announced
}}

The '''Rhino''' is a large [[Surface Recon Vehicles|Surface Recon Vehicle]] (SRV) manufactured by [[Vodel]] and designed primarily for [[Surface Mining|surface mining]]. Frontier Developments has announced the Rhino for release on 2 September 2026 alongside the Large Planetary Vehicle Hangar and Planetary Mineral Scanner.<ref name="frontier-august-dev-log">[https://www.elitedangerous.com/news/elite-dangerous-august-dev-log-2026 Elite Dangerous: August Dev Log 2026], Frontier Developments, 27 August 2026.</ref>

== Overview ==

Frontier describes the Rhino as the first new SRV since 2021 and as a large, heavily armoured SRV built for mining and surface utility work.<ref name="frontier-first-look">[https://www.elitedangerous.com/news/beneath-surface-your-first-look-rhino Beneath the Surface - Your First Look at the Rhino], Frontier Developments, 6 August 2026.</ref><ref name="frontier-august-dev-log" /> It was developed by Vodel, described in the August 2026 developer log as a Core Dynamics subsidiary.<ref name="frontier-august-dev-log" />

The Rhino expands the SRV role into surface mining. Frontier has stated that it is larger than earlier SRVs, has six wheels, includes seats for three Commanders, and uses its interior space for gathered materials and equipment rather than an accessible walkable interior.<ref name="frontier-first-look" /> It also comes equipped with a [[Planetary Mineral Scanner]] and suitable protection to defend its haul.<ref name="frontier-august-dev-log" />

No official released-game statistics for speed, hull strength, shields, cargo capacity, weapon damage, mining yield, power usage, purchase price, mass, or engineering are included here until they can be verified from Frontier material or released game data.

== Surface mining ==

{{Main|Surface Mining}}

The Rhino's primary function is to introduce Surface Mining, a new planetary resource-extraction loop. Frontier describes Surface Mining as a way to acquire raw materials around geological sites on planetary surfaces and to extract more material from planetary surfaces than existing collection methods.<ref name="frontier-first-look" /><ref name="frontier-august-dev-log" />

According to Frontier's August 2026 developer log, the Rhino uses a built-in scanner to detect planetary mining deposits and visibly mark mineral-rich patches both on the surface and on sensors. Resource locations and quantities are generated across planetary surfaces, but collected deposits regenerate very slowly, so a single resource-rich location is not expected to provide a constant high output.<ref name="frontier-august-dev-log" />

This section summarizes the Rhino's relationship to Surface Mining. Detailed mechanics belong on [[Surface Mining]] and should be updated after release with verified gameplay information.

== Large Planetary Vehicle Hangar ==

{{Main|Large Planetary Vehicle Hangar}}

The Rhino requires the new [[Large Planetary Vehicle Hangar]]. Frontier has stated that the Rhino is too large to deploy through the regular cargo hatch like other SRVs and is instead dropped from the new vehicle bay.<ref name="frontier-first-look" />

Frontier announced the following pre-release ship and module-class compatibility for the large planetary vehicle hangar:<ref name="frontier-august-dev-log" />

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
! Ship
! Supported module class
|-
| [[Alliance Crusader]] || Class 5-6
|-
| [[Anaconda]] || Class 5-7
|-
| [[Beluga Liner]] || Class 5-6
|-
| [[Caspian Explorer]] || Class 5-7
|-
| [[Federal Corvette]] || Class 5-7
|-
| [[Federal Gunship]] || Class 5-6
|-
| [[Imperial Cutter]] || Class 5-7
|-
| [[Keelback]] || Class 5
|-
| [[Krait Mk II]] || Class 5-6
|-
| [[Panther Clipper Mk II]] || Class 5-7
|-
| [[Type-9 Heavy]] || Class 5-7
|-
| [[Type-10 Defender]] || Class 5-7
|-
| [[Type-11 Prospector]] || Class 5-6
|}

== Planetary Mineral Scanner ==

{{Main|Planetary Mineral Scanner}}

Frontier has announced that the Rhino comes equipped with a Planetary Mineral Scanner. The scanner detects planetary mining deposits and marks mineral-rich patches on the terrain and on sensors so the Rhino and its crew can position for extraction.<ref name="frontier-august-dev-log" />

== Crew ==

Frontier has announced that the Rhino allows up to three Commanders to travel together and that its cockpit has seats for three Commanders.<ref name="frontier-august-dev-log" /><ref name="frontier-first-look" /> Frontier has not yet confirmed enough public detail here to document seat-specific controls, telepresence or physical multicrew behaviour, reward sharing, ownership requirements, or crew permissions.

== Availability ==

Frontier has scheduled the Rhino update for 2 September 2026.<ref name="frontier-august-dev-log" /> The August 2026 developer log says that picking up the Rhino in ARX Early Access gives access to the Rhino Surface Mining Vehicle Mk II, the Large Planetary Vehicle Hangar and Planetary Mineral Scanner, the Rhino Outfitting Unlock, and the Rhino Owners Club Decal. Frontier also announced Stellar and Galactic editions with additional cosmetic options.<ref name="frontier-august-dev-log" />

This article treats storefront package information as secondary to the Rhino's gameplay role and should not be expanded into a full ARX catalogue.

== Development history ==

Frontier officially revealed the Rhino in the 6 August 2026 article "Beneath the Surface - Your First Look at the Rhino", describing it as a colossal SRV built around the then-new Surface Mining activity and previewing its large size, six-wheel design, mining role, and three-seat cockpit.<ref name="frontier-first-look" />

Frontier's 27 August 2026 developer log provided additional confirmed details, including the 2 September 2026 release date, Vodel manufacturer attribution, ARX Early Access contents, the Planetary Mineral Scanner, Surface Mining deposit behaviour, and the announced Large Planetary Vehicle Hangar compatibility list.<ref name="frontier-august-dev-log" />

== See also ==

* [[Surface Recon Vehicles]]
* [[Scarab]]
* [[Scorpion]]
* [[Surface Mining]]
* [[Large Planetary Vehicle Hangar]]
* [[Planetary Mineral Scanner]]
* [[Ships and Equipment]]

== References ==

<references />

[[Category:Surface Recon Vehicles]]