SMET (Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport) is a tender of unmanned land vehicles for the US Army in the course of which the army will buy more than 2,000 units of unmanned ground platforms slated to support the infantry, Milrem said.

The two companies partnered to create a breakthrough UGV that combines Milrem's THeMIS (Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System), the first fully modular hybrid unmanned ground vehicle made for military applications, with QinetiQ North America's robotic control technology — the Tactical Robot Controller (TRC) and Robotic Applique Kit (RAK).

This joint solution, known as Titan, not only meets, but exceeds, the rigorous SMET program requirements, Milrem reported. As a multi-mission vehicle platform, Titan is able to perform complex and hazardous tasks on the battlefield that are currently performed by soldiers.

"QinetiQ North America has a long history of providing the military with robust and reliable products that enable safer and more efficient operations," said Jon Hastie, a product manager at QuinetiQ North America. "We are very excited to partner with Milrem and leverage QNA's unmanned ground vehicle technology to offer a new highly mobile, hybrid-electric robotic system that lightens the warfighter's load, increases soldier safety and improves mission endurance."

Milrem CEO Kudar Väärsi was likewise pleased with the Estonian company's opportunity to partner with the American firm, which it described as a technology leader in the unmanned ground vehicle sector. "QinetiQ North America's well-known and robust control system and Milrem's highly versatile modular vehicle platform combine to create an ideal solution that adapts to any mission, from logistics support to advanced weapon systems," he said.

Titan is on display at the 2016 Association of the United States Army (AUSA) in Washington from October 3-5.