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Land Systems / Battlefield

MULE (Multifunction Utility / Logistics and Equipment)


Unmanned Infantry Support Vehicle (UISV) [ 2011 ]



The arrival of the MULE could revolutionize the modern battlefield in more ways than one.



Authored By: JR Potts, AUS 173d AB | Last Edited: 09/28/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

National flag graphic A fully-loaded transport MULE traverses a slope
VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]
Soldiers in the modern area are required to perform many different types of missions. The more equipment an infantry soldier can carry may result in a completed mission or even save the soldiers life. An average 165lb soldier weighs 240 lbs with his rut sack, weapon and water supply. Lockheed Martin has designed a robot vehicle system called the Multifunction Utility/Logistics and Equipment Vehicle (MULE) to help with such actions. This 6-wheeled vehicle is being currently developed into three major variants - the ARV-A (L) Armed Robotic Assault Light Vehicle designed to attack fixed positions and carry anti-tank missiles, the Counter Mine Vehicle (CMV) which can be used to locate buried mines and dispose of them and the Transport Vehicle (TV) which itself is the furthest along in development and is to be used to carry additional gear while in support of light infantry actions.

Naming the vehicle the MULE was by design. The actual mule is essentially an offspring between a horse and a donkey and takes the best attributes from both - sure-footed and strong like the donkey but easier to control while being strong and intelligent like the horse. The mule has always been a beast of burden and has worked with the US Army since the Colonial times and in fact became the U.S. Army?s mascot. Three such animals are kept at West Point and cared for by the cadets.

Some reports state that there are currently over 4,000 robots operating on land, air and at sea in Iraq and Afghanistan but robots in combat are not new developments. In 1940 the German Wehrmacht ordered a small vehicle developed to deliver a 50kg explosive charge. The "Goliath" resulted and carried a 60kg bomb, steered remotely by a joystick connected by 3 wires - two for steering and one for detonation. Thousands were built with limited success. Regardless, the idea was planted well before the computer wars of today.

The transport MULE is designed to follow and support two squads of infantry in the field and can be loaded with up to 2,000lbs of supplies. The mule weighs 3.5 tons (7,000lbs) and is operated by a single a soldier by way of a joystick. His interaction can place him remotely some miles away or an onboard GPS pre-computed route can be utilized in more dangerous locations. The significant advantage of the MULE is that they can go most anywhere. The drive system is a 6x6 wheel independent articulated suspension system with each wheel having individual hub motors, allowing the wheels to have a high mobility in difficult terrain. The center two wheels are slightly set back and have the ability to move vertically on the chassis - this allows the MULE to climb a one meter wall or cross a one meter ditch. The suspension can adjust to allow the mule to travel horizontally on a 40-degree slope with the center line of the vehicle load kept level. This is an advantage when transporting wounded soldiers. The system holds a water generation and purification system as well. Also the on board generator give the troops the ability to recharge personal equipment in the field.

The Mule moved into the SDD phase of development costing $290 million USD in 2003. All three variants are expected to be delivered to Afghanistan by mid-2011. ©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

Specifications



Service Year
2011

Origin
United States national flag graphic
United States

Crew
1
CREWMEN
Production
1
UNITS


Lockheed Martin - USA
(View other Vehicle-Related Manufacturers)
National flag of the United States United States
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)


Length
16.4 ft
5 m
Width
6.6 ft
2 m
Height
5.2 ft
1.6 m
Weight
7,716 lb
3,500 kg
Tonnage
3.9 tons
LIGHT
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base MULE (Multifunction Utility / Logistics and Equipment) production variant. Length typically includes main gun in forward position if applicable to the design)
Powerplant: 1 x diesel-electric engine delivering 350 horsepower.
Speed
59.7 mph
(96.0 kph)
Range
30.0 mi
(48.3 km)
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base MULE (Multifunction Utility / Logistics and Equipment) production variant. Compare this entry against any other in our database)
ARV-A(L):
2 x Javelin anti-tank missile
2 x 7.62mm M240 General Purpose Machine Guns


Supported Types


Graphical image of a tank anti-tank guided missile
Graphical image of a tank medium machine gun


(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)
Dependent on mission parameters.


XM1219 ARV-A-L (Armed Robotic Assault Light Vehicle) - Armed variant; fitted with 2 x Javelin anti-tank missiles and up to 2 x M240 GPMG with applicable ammunition supplies.
Transport Vehicle (TV) - Dedicated transport mule.
XM1218 Counter Mine Vehicle (MULE-CM) - Dedicated anti-mine vehicle.


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Images Gallery



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Image of the MULE (Multifunction Utility / Logistics and Equipment)
A fully-loaded transport MULE traverses a slope
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Image of the MULE (Multifunction Utility / Logistics and Equipment)
High-angled left side view of the transport MULE
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Image of the MULE (Multifunction Utility / Logistics and Equipment)
High-angled left-side view of the transport MULE showing off its adjustable wheels
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Image of the MULE (Multifunction Utility / Logistics and Equipment)
Front left side view of the armed support MULE; note missile launchers
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Image of the MULE (Multifunction Utility / Logistics and Equipment)
A transport MULE at speed on a paved surface
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Image of the MULE (Multifunction Utility / Logistics and Equipment)
A transport MULE manages a ditch
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Image of the MULE (Multifunction Utility / Logistics and Equipment)
A transport MULE at rest; note size compared to soldier
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Image of the MULE (Multifunction Utility / Logistics and Equipment)
An armed MULE on display; note M240 machine gun mock up
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Image of the MULE (Multifunction Utility / Logistics and Equipment)
Soldiers evaluating the transport MULE
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Image of the MULE (Multifunction Utility / Logistics and Equipment)
A transport MULE on display
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Image of the MULE (Multifunction Utility / Logistics and Equipment)
A transport MULE manages a turn during evaluations
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Image of the MULE (Multifunction Utility / Logistics and Equipment)
A transport MULE tows an Army cargo transport truck

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