Lockheed Awaits SMSS Decision

Lockheed Martin is awaiting feedback from the US DoD's National Assessment Group regarding the validation of programme of record (PoR) for its Squad Mission Support System (SMSS), it has emerged.


According to Scott Greene, VP for ground vehicles at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, the assessment group is in the process of formulating a 'full report' to validate such a requirement.

However, Greene warned that a decision could take between 12 and 18 months to come to fruition, potentially in the guise of the Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) programme.


'We need to get the requirement validated and can then expand on it beyond that,' Green proclaimed while describing affordability as a primary focus of the programme. 'It needs to be a Swiss Army Knife, meaning it is very easy to insert different mission packages whether they be ambulance, ISR, communications or weapons.'


The news follows the return of SMSS from operations in Afghanistan. Having first deployed in January, SMSS carried out over 40 missions supplying combat outposts from a forward operating base. The evaluation was twice extended, Greene explained, although the platform was retired from theatre in May. Greene also described how it had been utilised predominantly in tele-operation mode.

Greene said the UK's Ministry of Defence was also in the process of validating its requirement for such a system following trials with SMSS on Salisbury Plain training area in March. 'The UK is conducting an introspection and looking at potential requirements and we remain cautiously optimistic,' Greene said.


Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin expects a contract for the technology demonstrator (TD) phase of the USMC's Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC) to be awarded in August, with Greene noting that the programme is currently in the midst of the TD acquisition phase. 'The USMC is looking to evaluate a COTS vehicle in blast, swim and human functions tests.'


The MPC programme seeks an 8x8 vehicle to augment the marine corps' Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) mission with the service looking at acquiring approximately 580 MPC vehicles, Greene added.


Lockheed Martin has partnered with Finnish company Patria to offer up the 8x8 Havoc Armored Modular Vehicle, which is currently in service with Polish forces operating in Afghanistan. He added that Lockheed Martin has submitted a proposal to the USMC as well as conducting a number of Q&A sessions.


Competitors in the programme include Iveco which has teamed up with BAE Systems to offer up its 8x8 amphibious armoured personnel carrier. In addition, he said the vehicle had already undergone surf and swim testing at Camp Pendleton as well as riverine crossings at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland.


'There are unique USMC requirements to tailor [the vehicle's] current capability,' Greene explained while describing how the Lockheed Martin/Patria offering would be manufactured in the US.