Armed Forces News

In roughly three years, soldiers in the field should get help moving the heavy loads they must carry. The Army is working in tandem with industry to produce a Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET), which would carry as much as a half-ton of gear that normally would be borne by a squad of soldiers. The Army recently demonstrated four of the small vehicles in the Pentagon center courtyard — showing that they were capable of carrying nine rucksacks, six boxes of Meals Ready To Eat (MREs), and four water cans. One soldier can guide each vehicle, using a remote control, hand-held device. Each vehicle would be able to supply electric power to the soldiers it serves — one kilowatt while moving, or three kilowatts while standing still.

The Army is in the process of determining which vehicle ultimately would be selected. Future tests will take place at Fort Drum, N.Y., Fort Campbell, Ky., and Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, N.C.