The MULE, Multifunction Utility Logistics Equipment, is an unmanned, 6x6, Ground Vehicle designed to carry weapons, refurbishment and other military payloads in support of military dismounted units such as infantry squads. The MULE will be able to perform missions jointly with other manned/unmanned vehicles. Unprecedented mobility over current vehicles will be required to access everywhere the infantry units could be deployed.
The MULE vehicle will be integral to the FCS manned and unmanned systems and will complement the Objective Force Warrior. It is planned to produce the MULE robotic vehicle in three variants: Air Assault, Transport and Countermine.
On July 21, 2004, BAe Systems received a $59.9 million contract from the US Army funding the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) of the Ground Standoff Minefield Detection System (GSTAMIDS) for the FCS program. The work will be conducted in the United States (Austin, Texas) and the GSTAMIDS will be integrated on the robotic MULE. The system will consists of mine detection with a ground penetrating radar, marking and neutralization using countermine-shaped charges sets.