{"id":1699,"date":"2024-09-26T01:01:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T01:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daily-bullet.com\/?p=1699"},"modified":"2024-09-26T01:01:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-26T01:01:00","slug":"army-announces-small-multipurpose-equipment-transport-inc-ii-contract-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daily-bullet.com\/?p=1699","title":{"rendered":"Army Announces Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport Inc. II Contract Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"
Detroit Arsenal, Mich. (Sept.\u00a024, 2024) \u2014 The Army announced the award of two Other Transaction Authority Engineering and Manufacturing Design contracts today to American Rheinmetall Vehicles, LLC, and HDT Expeditionary Systems, Inc., totaling a combined $22 million to provide eight prototypes each of the Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport Increment II.<\/p>\n
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The S-MET was originally developed as a Directed Requirement meant to identify opportunities for the Army to quickly field existing platforms to improve the fighting force\u2019s 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.\u00a0In its first increment, the S-MET is capable of carrying 1,000 lbs. of equipment and provides enhanced capability primarily in Infantry Brigade Combat Teams, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, and Security Force Assistance Brigades.<\/p>\n
The second increment seeks to double that payload capacity while adding several improvements identified by Solders during evaluation and operation. Those improvements include:<\/p>\n
\u201cS-MET Increment II addresses capability gaps associated with excessive physical burdens, recharging batteries during continuous operations, and reducing sustainment burden for semi-independent operations.\u00a0The 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,\u201d said Kyle Bruner, the Army\u2019s project manager for Force Projection, Program Executive Office Combat Support & Combat Service Support, headquartered here.<\/p>\n
\u201cS-MET supports the Army\u2019s mission to implement robotic and autonomous system capabilities with urgency to lessen risk to Soldiers in multi-domain operations,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
By Sam Tricomo, Program Executive Office Combat Support & Combat Service Support<\/em><\/p>\n