Hanwha’s Arion-SMET multipurpose unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) has completed a week-long field test conducted by the US Marine Corps (USMC) and US Army, the South Korean company announced on 4 January 2024.
The field tests were carried out as part of the Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) programme run by the USMC Systems Command. Representatives from III Marine Expeditionary Force (III-MEF) and the Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) of Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) also joined the tests, which were held at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows (MCTAB), located on the eastern edge of Oahu, Hawaii, from 14 to 22 December 2023.
The trials represent the first instance of a South Korean UGV participating in the US Department of Defense’s FCT programme, which is designed to assess, evaluate, and verify cutting-edge technologies developed by the defence contractors of US allies that could enhance the capabilities of the US military.
Hanwha noted in a press release that the FCT trials of the Arion-SMET mark a significant milestone for the two-ton, electrically powered robotic vehicle, positioning it as a potential contender in the global UGV market.
Prior to the actual FCT, a group of Marines had three days of user training sessions to operate the Arion-SMET on challenging terrain, such as a turf-covered packed sand beach course, soft sand, sand clay, as well as bumpy and rutted roads. The tests were focused on evaluating the vehicle’s various mission capabilities, including heavy equipment transport, remote-controlled driving, waypoint navigation, exploratory manoeuvring, soldier following, and physical tether following.
Youngwoo Seo, executive vice president of Hanwha Aerospace’s Land Systems Business Group, expressed his confidence in the Arion-SMET’s advanced hardware and software in a company press release, noting that its participation in the US FCT programme “is evidence of its potential success, positioning it as a strong contender in the UGV markets of the US and other countries in the future”.
Meanwhile, Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA), a US defence-focused affiliate of Hanwha Aerospace, is planning to compete for the second increment of the US Army’s Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (S-MET) programme, dubbed the S-MET Increment II.
John Kelly, president and CEO of HDUSA, was quoted by Hanwha as saying, “HDUSA is interested in the SMET Increment II and is preparing a partnership with US prime contractors and suppliers to compete for the unmanned ground vehicle contest.”
The Arion-SMET (the name is an acronym that stands for Autonomous and Robotic Systems for Intelligence Off-road Navigation – SMET) fully integrates HAEMOS (Hanwha Aerospace’s solutions for robotic and autonomous systems) with a 6×6 fully electric UGV to address missions for supporting infantry operations, including ammunition transport, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, and close combat support.
With a maximum payload capacity of 550 kg, the Arion-SMET can cover up to 100 km on a full charge and has a top speed of 43 km/h on paved roads and 22 km/h on unpaved roads. It can also be equipped with an advanced remote-controlled weapon station, armed with either a 5.56 mm or 7.62 mm machine gun, that can automatically track and aim at targets through gunshot source localisation.
The Arion-SMET can be operated in various modes, including remote-controlled driving, autonomous off-road driving, exploratory manoeuvring, physical tether following, and leading soldier and vehicle following.
