S-MET (MUTT 8x8)

USD 249 million in July 2020 bought the US Army its first fielded robotic 'mule': General Dynamics Land Systems of Sterling Heights, Michigan, won the S-MET programme with an 8x8 version of its MUTT family, first shown in 2014 (Military Aerospace gives no quantity, so no unit price can be derived).

In fielded configuration the vehicle weighs about 1,590 kg and carries 545 kg – the load of a nine-soldier squad – although GD's own 8x8 datasheet quotes up to 1,134 kg of payload at 1,588 kg gross on tracks or 1,360 kg on wheels. It is 295 cm long and 180 cm wide.

The hybrid-electric drivetrain covers 58 km on battery and 60 miles (97 km) with the generator and 5 gallons of fuel, and exports 3 kW for radios and chargers. A one-hand controller offers teleoperation, leader-follower tethering and waypoint navigation, and the vehicle fits inside CH-47 and V-22 aircraft. Smaller MUTTs exist as 4x4 (270 kg) and 6x6 (408 kg).

Users include the 10th Mountain Division (Combined Resolve 25-1 at Hohenfels), the 82nd Airborne (Project Convergence) and the 4th Infantry Division, which per Frag Out fitted a Protector remote weapon station with a 12.7 mm M2 and an EO mast; the datasheet anticipates future weapon stations. In service since 2021.

The Hunter WOLF is the rival in Increment II, and Europe's 8x8 counterpart is the Mission Master SP.