US Army Tests New Ground Transport Drone for Airdrop at Fort Liberty

Defense News - The latest ground transport drone from the US Army underwent a trial in a low-velocity airdrop at the Fort Liberty Normandy Drop Zone in North Carolina. Conducted under the guidance of experts from the Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate, the test encompassed diverse scenarios aimed at evaluating the ground impact tolerance of the Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (S-MET) during low-velocity airdrops.

The primary function of the S-MET is to support the logistical requirements of Infantry Brigade Combat Teams by transporting modular payloads, mission-critical equipment, and various supplies. Throughout the demonstration, the S-MET successfully executed multiple low-velocity airdrop iterations and demonstrated corresponding maneuvers feasible in an active battlefield setting.

Valuable information and feedback gathered during the trial will play a pivotal role in informing US Army leaders decisions regarding drone airdrop deployments and product enhancements. Prior to the evaluation at Fort Liberty, personnel underwent training on the robotic platform instrumentation, controls, and tactical operation instructions.

The S-MET drone, designed for internal resupply operations, boasts an operational capacity of up to 72 hours and a range of 60 miles (96.5 kilometers) when accompanying a small warfighter unit. It relies on 1 to 3 kilowatts of power supplied by a battery that can charge on the move and has an impressive cargo capacity of 2,500 pounds (1,133 kilograms).

According to Jacob Boll from the Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate, the S-MET provides small, dismounted units with the capability to generate power for organic electronic systems. He highlighted that the drone effectively reduces physical burdens while operating in dispersed and decentralized forces in challenging environments for extended periods.

The focus of the testing was on evaluating the operational effectiveness and suitability of the S-MET for low-velocity airdrop operations. Soldiers involved in the trial witnessed the S-METs prowess in negotiating operationally relevant terrain profiles.