Marines recently tested an unmanned ground vehicle that could transport gear, provide mobile electrical charging, and add firepower to small units.
The Army’s current program for the vehicle is called the squad multipurpose equipment transport, or SMET. The Marines’ program is called multi-utility tactical transport, or MUTT.
The 3rd Littoral Logistics Battalion Marines at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Hawaii, conducted a foreign comparative test over two weeks in December 2023, alongside U.S. Army researchers, of the Hanwha Arion-SMET vehicle.
The Arion-SMET is a six-wheeled electric vehicle that can carry 1,200 pounds, travel up to 62 miles and reach a top speed of 27 miles per hour on paved roads and 14 miles per hour on unpaved roads, according to the company.
The Marine Corps has not yet fielded an unmanned ground vehicle. The assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology has stated that increment II for the squad multipurpose equipment transport could include adding weapons or sensor packages.
Hanwha’s recent comparative testing is part of a second wave of unmanned ground vehicle development for both services.
In 2016, Marines tested a tracked version of the multi-utility tactical transport that carried 600 pounds on land and 300 pounds while running amphibious for about 15 miles before power ran down.
