Four new Lockheed Martin Corp unmanned ground vehicles are to be shipped next week en route to Afghanistan, the largest such units ever deployed with US forces. The remotely controlled 3,800-pound, 11-foot-long "Squad Mission Support System" is designed to do such things as unburden a soldier's load that typically tops 100 pounds, support mortar teams, provide mobile power and patrol perimeters.
The all-terrain vehicle was on display here during an annual meeting and arms bazaar of the Association of the United States Army, held in Washington this week. Lockheed spent more than $20 million of its own funds to develop the system, dubbed Ox after the beasts that helped lug previous- generation troops' loads. The goal is to sell for less than $250,000 per unit, said Don Nimblett, the company's top business development manager for the project.