U.S. Chinooks Airlift S-MET Robotic Mules for the First Time in Jungle Drills in Southeast Asia.

On June 2, 2025, Boeing’s CH-47 Chinook and General Dynamics’ S-MET marked a shift in U.S. Army tactics during joint jungle drills in the Philippines. As reported by the U.S. Department of Defense via DVIDS, the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade sling-loaded the robotic S-MET into Fort Magsaysay. Conducted under JPMRC-X, this second CTC rotation in the Philippines highlights a move toward autonomous logistics. The integration of robotic payload carriers in jungle terrain reflects a clear adaptation to future Indo-Pacific conflicts. It strengthens U.S. readiness for distributed operations in complex environments. China and Taiwan remain central to this evolving strategic calculus. 
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The pairing of the CH-47 Chinook and the MUTT (Multi-Utility Tactical Transport) platform, reflects a convergence of proven aviation capabilities and next-generation ground robotics (Picture source: U.S. Army)

The pairing of the CH-47 Chinook, an iconic heavy-lift platform by Boeing, with the S-MET, developed by General Dynamics Land Systems and based on the MUTT (Multi-Utility Tactical Transport) platform, reflects a convergence of proven aviation capabilities and next-generation ground robotics. The Chinook, with decades of combat experience, has remained a versatile workhorse due to its ability to perform high-payload vertical lift operations in diverse environments. Meanwhile, the S-MET is a tracked or wheeled robotic vehicle that can carry over 1,000 pounds of equipment, is operated remotely with a one-handed controller, and is designed to reduce the physical burden on dismounted troops. Its core mission is tactical resupply, but its platform can be adapted for reconnaissance, casualty evacuation, and even armed support. Compared to traditional human porters or manned light vehicles, the S-MET allows for stealthier, safer, and more agile maneuvering through dense, hostile terrain, making it uniquely suited for jungle operations where line-of-sight and mobility are constantly challenged.

The introduction of robotic logistics systems into live-fire joint drills in the Philippines has profound implications. Militarily, it enhances endurance and tempo for light infantry units operating far from established supply lines. Geopolitically, the use of these systems in a high-readiness CTC event in Southeast Asia sends a message to regional adversaries, primarily China, that the U.S. is not only committed to forward presence but is also technologically evolving to meet the demands of distributed operations across archipelagic terrain.

With tensions around Taiwan intensifying and the PLA enhancing its own autonomous systems, the U.S. military’s use of robotic mules in jungle deployment scenarios illustrates a shift toward scalable, unmanned, high-agility warfare. The fact that these platforms are now tested in bilateral exercises like Salaknib II suggests that allies such as the Philippines are also being integrated into this evolving technological ecosystem, reinforcing deterrence through shared operational readiness.

By airlifting autonomous ground systems directly into austere combat zones, the United States is redefining how expeditionary forces sustain themselves under contested conditions. The marriage of Boeing’s legacy heavy-lift capability with General Dynamics' modular robotic logistics platforms points to a near-future battlefield where human-machine teaming is essential not just for effectiveness but for survivability. This capability, now visibly tested on the jungle floors of Luzon, is not a theoretical shift but an operational reality, projecting a new kind of force posture that is both technologically superior and tactically adaptive in the Indo-Pacific.