An autonomous Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (S-MET) with a small unmanned aircraft system landing pad is demonstrated with the Close Combat Lethality Task Force. (US Army)
Operating the federal government under a continuing resolution is hampering the US Army's ability to field a new autonomous vehicle, a service official announced on 25 February.
The Autonomous Transport Vehicle for Sustainment (ATV-S) is a “critical” capability to “extend the division commander's operational reach”, said Major General Michelle Donahue, commanding general of Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM), at the Tactical Wheeled Vehicle conference in Reston, Virginia. The system –made up of a Palletized Load System (PLS) vehicle with autonomous kits – is scheduled for fielding in the next 12–18 months, but this may be extended based on funding.
If the continuing resolution stretches on, “it could even be 24 months, depending on if we can't go forth with the final source selection for that capability, and so that will then delay us in [20]26; it'll then delay us for all those other things that we have to get after from a final testing and full materiel release perspective”, she said.
Three Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements were awarded to Robotics Research Autonomous Industries, Neya Systems, and Carnegie Robotics in December 2023, according to an army press release. Since then, the army has downselected to Carnegie Robotics and Forterra, Maj Gen Donahue said.
Despite the funding uncertainties, the army is “committed” to the system, Maj Gen Donahue said.
“We expect our additional composite truck companies to increase sustained throughput by 50% while autonomously navigating varied and unpredictable routes while maintaining continuous movement,” she said.
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