Rheinmetall And HDT To Supply Robot Mule Prototypes to US Army

Two firms — American Rheinmetall Vehicles (ARV) and HDT Expeditionary Systems — have each scooped contracts to provide the U.S. Army with experimental new autonomous robotic mules.

Under the terms of the $22 million Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) Increment II programme the firms will each produce eight prototypes of their new Uncrewed Ground Vehicles (UGVs) for evaluation.

If this testing proves successful the army anticipates ordering more than 2,000 of the best-performing platform during the 2027 fiscal year.

The original S-MET, produced by General Dynamics from one of its Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) products, is a radio-controlled, eight-wheeled UGV which can carry payloads of just under half a ton; it is largely used by infantry combat troops and Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams.

The U.S. Army wants the new SMET II vehicles to feature a range of upgraded capabilities including a 2,000lb payload capacity and higher exportable power outputs to run Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and their associated comms equipment.

Kyle Bruner, the Army’s project manager for Force Projection, Program Executive Office Combat Support & Combat Service Support, explained: “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.

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.”

Jim Schirmer, Senior Vice President and Deputy Managing Director of ARV, added: “American Rheinmetall Vehicles is honored with the Army’s selection and excited to deliver our S-MET platform which is particularly attractive due to its technological excellence, affordability, and reliability.”

ARV is partnering with Textron Systems and its subsidiary, Howe & Howe, to create its S-MET II vehicle.

• You can read more details on the U.S. Army website and the Rheinmetall website