The Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport program (S-MET), a US Army initiative, aims to equip infantry brigade battle teams (IBCT) to rapidly field new capabilities while reducing the physical and mental workload of soldiers. To speed the acquisition process, the Program Executive Office for Combat Support and Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS) developed a strategy called the "Other Transactional Authority." It is a collaborative tool designed to speed the modernization of equipment while maintaining high quality.
S-MET will allow IBCTs to transport more equipment, extend radio communication range, and transport essential supplies. S-MET vehicles will eventually be installed in every US Army unit. 624 platforms will have been delivered by 2024. These platforms will provide support for a wide range of mission needs including digging fighting positions and filling Hesco Barriers. They also carry mission-centric equipment.
PEOCS&CSS and Product Management Office for Applique and Large Unmanned Systems worked together to improve the program's efficiency. The SMET program is able to provide greater performance for FLRAA/FARA by utilizing innovative integration approaches.
SMET will train IBCTs how to use the systems in the first year. The Army will then collect operational feedback and information from Soldiers. The Army will use this feedback to determine the best system to make. When selecting a vehicle, the Army will perform a technology demonstration to find the best option for the program. Two Army Infantry units also will receive copies from competing SMET vehicle models.
It consists of two major parts. The Phase I Assessment took place in September 2017 and the Phase II Technology Demonstration will take place over the next year. Both assessments involve soldiers testing the various systems with input from them regarding functionality, performance, endurance, and longevity.
A phase I assessment provided the Army with a comprehensive picture of the candidate systems and the potential to reduce the burden on the Soldier. This program helped determine whether current solutions from industry were appropriate for the program. The program will ultimately provide an unmanned mobile charging station that is electric-powered and unmanned for Soldiers while on patrol.
After Phase I, the Army narrowed down the candidates to four: General Dynamics (Textron), HDT Global (HDT Global), and Neya systems LLC. Each contender had a small remote control.
The Army will be able to select one vehicle as a result from the Phase II Technology Demonstration. The Army will start low-rate production once the vehicle has been selected. Every infantry unit in the US Army's Army will be equipped within five years with an SMET. Six-hundred of these vehicles are expected to be manufactured, with the first receiving them in mid-2021.
As the program moves forward, more capabilities will be added to SMET. Some possible options include dismounted engineer mobility systems and unmanned aerial systems. Future modifications might allow for the integration of a teleoperation feedback mechanism. Modular mission payloads are also available to address specific mission requirements.