The US Army has announced the selection of two companies, HDT Expeditionary Systems and Rheinmetall, to develop robotic mule prototypes as part of its efforts to enhance battlefield capabilities before ultimately choosing a single contractor for production.
The Army has allocated a total of $22 million to be shared between the two teams, each tasked with creating eight prototypes for the Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (S-MET) Increment II program, which is a key initiative for the Army’s robotic vehicle modernization efforts. Following the evaluation of these prototypes, the Army plans to award a production contract to one of the vendors in late fiscal 2027, with a potential purchase of up to 2,195 ground vehicles.
“S-MET supports the Army’s mission to urgently implement robotic and autonomous system capabilities to reduce risks to soldiers in multi-domain operations,” said Kyle Bruner, project manager for Force Projection within the Program Executive Office Combat Support & Combat Service Support.
Previously, the Army contracted General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) to develop the initial S-MET, which is an eight-wheeled, radio-controlled platform capable of transporting up to 1,000 pounds of equipment on the battlefield. The competition for Increment II aims to create a new robot with double the capacity—2,000 pounds—while also providing increased power for drones, improved battlefield reliability, and a quieter operational profile.
“S-MET Increment II addresses capability gaps related to excessive physical burdens, the need to recharge batteries during prolonged operations, and the necessity to reduce sustainment burdens for semi-independent operations,” Bruner added.
Alongside Rheinmetall and HDT Expeditionary Systems, US-based tech company Anduril has partnered with South Korean defense giant Hanwha for this competition. Incumbent GDLS has also participated.
Matthew Warnick, managing director of American Rheinmetall Vehicles, expressed his approval of the program’s progression in a statement to Breaking Defense.
“The S-MET Inc II program will enhance our soldiers’ operational capabilities with the advanced technologies necessary to support their mission,” Warnick stated. “I’m incredibly proud of our entire organization for their hard work and dedication to achieving this success.”
