American Rheinmetall US Army’s S-MET Inc II Contract: Sterling Heights, Michigan – American Rheinmetall Vehicles has secured one of two contracts awarded in the US Army‘s Small Multi-Purpose Equipment Transport (S-MET) Inc II program. The company’s unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) will provide the Army with a versatile and resilient platform capable of efficiently transporting supplies and equipment over rugged terrain to support combat operations.
In collaboration with lead partner Textron Systems, American Rheinmetall Vehicles developed a proposal that impressed the US Army with its innovative design and capabilities. The company will now manufacture and deliver eight prototypes to the US Army in 2025 for testing and evaluation.
American Rheinmetall Vehicles brings substantial expertise in developing unmanned ground vehicles to the S-MET program. The company’s Mission Master family of vehicles, which includes a range of modular, autonomous platforms, has been successfully deployed for various missions such as reconnaissance, surveillance, counter-unmanned aerial systems (cUAS), and logistical support.
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Textron Systems’ Ripsaw M5 robotic vehicle.
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American Rheinmetall-Textron Systems’ S-MET Solution
The S-MET solution developed by American Rheinmetall Vehicles leverages the advanced technology found in the Mission Master vehicles, while also incorporating mature commercial components already in the Army’s inventory or the commercial ATV space. This approach ensures affordability, reliability, and addresses electromagnetic concerns through its unique composite structure and use of materials.
Jim Schirmer, Senior Vice President and Deputy Managing Director of American Rheinmetall Vehicles, expressed the company’s excitement and honor at being selected by the Army for the S-MET Inc II program. He emphasized the platform’s technological excellence, affordability, and reliability as key factors contributing to its attractiveness.
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Textron Systems’ family of robotic vehicles.
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Textron Systems, with over three decades of experience in unmanned platforms, brings valuable expertise in robotics and systems integration to the team. The company’s subsidiary, Howe & Howe, has developed the mature, multi-mission capable RIPSAW M5 and M3 ground robotics platforms for the Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) programs.
By leveraging the control architecture developed for Textron Systems’ RCV solutions, the team’s S-MET vehicle provides a common interface that enables operators to utilize the same control system for both RCV and S-MET programs. This approach reduces the overall training burden and maximizes investments made in unmanned systems.
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