Lockheed Martin's Squad Mission Support System Selected for Deployment in Afghanistan

Strategic Insights -

The U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force, through the Robotics Technology Consortium, has selected the Lockheed Martin Squad Mission Support System (SMSS) to deploy to Afghanistan for a first-of-its-kind military assessment. The assessment, which will begin late this year, will evaluate how autonomous vehicles can support or ease the equipment burden for deployed troops. The SMSS is the largest autonomous vehicle ever to be deployed with infantry and can carry more than half-a-ton of a squad's equipment on rugged terrain.

Key Takeaways:

  • The SMSS will deploy to Afghanistan as part of the Project Workhorse Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) competition sponsored by the Army, with the goal of evaluating its ability to support or ease the equipment burden for deployed troops.
  • The SMSS is the largest autonomous vehicle ever to be deployed with infantry and can carry more than half-a-ton of a squad's equipment on rugged terrain, easing the individual soldier's burden, which can often exceed 100 pounds.
  • The SMSS has been deemed ready to deploy after three domestic user assessments and has a range of 125 miles with three control options: supervised autonomy, tele-operation, or manually driven.
  • The SMSS sensor suite allows it to lock on and follow any person by recognizing their digital 3-D profile (captured by the onboard sensors), and it can also navigate terrain on its own following a trail of GPS waypoints.
  • The SMSS has been selected for further evaluation as part of the Army's Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) Spiral G in November and will evaluate its ability to field a reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition mission equipment package.
  • The SMSS has already demonstrated its ability to reduce soldier loads and provide portable power, and will be used to support light infantry in theater during the Military Utility Assessment (MUA).

Statistics:

  • The size of the SMSS vehicle is 11 feet long.
  • The load capacity of the SMSS vehicle is more than half-a-ton (over 1,000 pounds).
  • The individual soldier's burden can exceed 100 pounds.
  • The range of the SMSS vehicle is 125 miles.
  • The SMSS Block I variant features three control options: supervised autonomy, tele-operation, or manually driven.
  • The SMSS sensor suite can recognize a digital 3-D profile of a person and follow them.
  • Lockheed Martin's 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.
  • Lockheed Martin employs about 126,000 people worldwide.

Sources:

  • U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force press release (exact date not specified in the original text).
  • Lockheed Martin press release (exact date not specified in the original text).
  • "Lockheed Martin's Squad Mission Support System Selected for Deployment in Afghanistan" (PRNewswire, July 28, 2011).