Arms, Armed and Armor: Lockheed Martin Ponders Options on SMSS

By Danielle Lucey

23 October 2012

Lockheed Martin intends on tweaking the design and capabilities of its self-funded Squad Mission Support System to include new sensors and account for changing concepts of operation. 



In a move away from cargo carrying, Lockheed’s Don Nimblett explained in a Tuesday briefing at the Association for the U.S. Army conference that SMSS is currently being tested by the Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, using a gyrocamera and a roller rake to perform anti-improvised explosive device work. 



“Our conclusion is it was very successful,” says Nimblett, on the ongoing TARDEC testing. 



The 9-inch gyrocamera uses a forward-looking infrared and laser range finder to provide data on the ground surrounding SMSS, revealing any areas where there might be buried IEDs. The roller would detonate any hidden ordnance, and the rake would dig 2 to 4 inches into the dirt to reveal any wires. Then troops could disarm the threat.



A possible way they could do that in the future is through the addition of an arm on SMSS, Nimblett told AUVSI. Lockheed would likely work with an existing arm maker and, through a division other than Missiles and Fire Control, create its own software to work the arm autonomously. Nimblett also said that the arm could be used to load and unload the cargo on SMSS, which is certified to carry up to 1,500 pounds, but was loaded up to 4,000 pounds on its most recent deployment to Afghanistan. 



The added weight came courtesy of a platoon using the system, instead of a squad like SMSS’ initial design purpose. This transition is part of a trend Lockheed is seeing in how troops use the vehicle.



Lockheed Martin is currently manufacturing a seventh SMSS to its lineup — this new one a Block 2 instead of a Block 1, though Nimblett could not comment on the differences. However, in the future the company is looking into possibly changing the chassis of the system, Nimblett told AUVSI, to one based on another company’s design. 



Nimblett also said Lockheed has concepts to arm SMSS, but is waiting on its customer to detail that requirement before it moves forward. To make the system less vulnerable, Lockheed is also considering adding armor to the main computer of SMSS, so it is not destroyed in gunfire. 



The company is currently in talks with the Department of Homeland Security on how SMSS might be used for border protection.