The US Army announced the award of two Other Transaction Authority engineering and manufacturing design contracts on 24 September 2024 to American Rheinmetall Vehicles and HDT Expeditionary Systems, totalling a combined USD 22 million (EUR 20 million), to each provide eight prototype Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (S-MET) unmanned ground vehicle (UGVs) under Increment II of the programme.
The S-MET was originally developed as a Directed Requirement meant to identify opportunities for the US Army to quickly field existing platforms to improve the fighting force’s capability. The S-MET Increment I is a single radio-controlled, eight-wheeled platform designed to carry payload, generate power for organic electronic systems and conduct unconstrained movement. In its first increment the S-MET is capable of carrying 1,000 lb (453.6 kg) of equipment and provides enhanced capability primarily in infantry brigade combat teams, explosive ordnance disposal units and Security Force Assistance Brigades.
The second increment seeks to double that payload capacity while adding several improvements identified by solders during evaluation and operation. Those improvements include: higher exportable power to enable modern mission payloads like unmanned aerial vehicles and communications equipment; improved audio signature reduction; a dismounted wireless mesh communication network; increased reliability; worldwide grid charging; and a modular and open architecture, allowing for easier and more cost-effective upgrades.
“S-MET Increment II addresses capability gaps associated with excessive physical burdens, recharging batteries during continuous operations, and reducing sustainment burden for semi-independent operations,” Kyle Bruner, the US Army’s project manager for Force Projection, Program Executive Office Combat Support & Combat Service Support, was quoted as saying in a army press release. “The S-MET reduces soldier load and enhances small unit combat effectiveness by reducing fatigue and injury caused by excessive physical loads, shifting the burden to the robotic platform.”
“S-MET supports the army’s mission to implement robotic and autonomous system capabilities with urgency to lessen risk to soldiers in multi-domain operations,” Bruner added.
Successful S-MET Increment II developmental testing will lead to a production contract slated for late Fiscal Year 2027 for an Army Acquisition Objective of up to 2,195 systems.
American Rheinmetall Vehicles, which is collaborating with Textron Systems on its S-MET bid, stated on 7 October that it will manufacture and deliver eight prototypes to the army in 2025 for testing and evaluation.
“American Rheinmetall Vehicles’ S-MET solution leverages the ground-breaking advancements in unmanned technology found in the Mission Master vehicles to deliver a UGV tailored to meet the unique requirements of the army’s S-MET programme,” the company stated. “The platform also uses many mature commercial components already found in the army’s inventory or the commercial ATV space, which drives affordability and reliability, and addresses electromagnetic concerns through its unique composite structure and use of materials.
Textron Systems and its subsidiary, Howe & Howe, contribute extensive knowledge of robotics and systems integration to the S-MET Increment II programme through development of the multi-mission capable Ripsaw M5 and M3 UGVs for the army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) programmes. Leveraging the control architecture developed for Textron Systems’ RCV solutions, the team’s S-MET vehicle provides a commonality that enables operators to utilise a common interface for both the RCV and S-MET programmes.
HDT, which on 28 September 2023 announced the selection of its WOLF-X 8×8 UGV by the US Army for an RCV programme Phase I contract award, had not issued any details on its S-MET Increment II plans by the time of going to press.
