SAFE Structure Designs (SAFE) has secured a contract worth more than $10m to supply its Multi-Utility LoadEr (MULE) expeditionary logistics platforms to the United States Marine Corps.
The initial order is for a limited quantity of systems and includes operator training and ongoing technical support, according to the Las Vegas-based company.
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SAFE said it was discussing a further purchase for delivery in 2027. Any additional order remains subject to final requirements, funding and procurement decisions.
The tracked MULE is designed to lift a loaded 463L military cargo pallet weighing up to 10,000 pounds from the ground and place it on its own cargo platform. The 463L system is used for the handling and movement of palletised military cargo.
The platform is also designed to be light enough for internal transport aboard a V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. Its weight allows it to be carried in the aft cargo-ramp position of a C-17, the company said.
That combination is intended to reduce the need to deploy separate forklifts and loaders when moving cargo in locations where such equipment may be difficult to transport or operate.
The supplied configuration uses controls that do not require a radio-frequency link. SAFE said this was relevant to ammunition and specialised ordnance-handling environments where limiting radio-frequency emissions is an operational consideration. Loads will remain subject to applicable military safety procedures and authorisation.
The vehicle has an adjustable cargo platform and integrated rollers for transferring loads between the MULE and compatible aircraft or transport vehicles. Its tracked drive system is intended to support movement across unimproved terrain.
SAFE Structure Designs president and CEO Johnny Buscema said: “The engineering challenge was to deliver substantial lifting capability without creating a machine too heavy to travel with the force it supports.
“The SAFE MULE can pick up a 10,000-pound loaded 463L pallet and carry it on its own platform, yet remain light enough to travel inside a V-22. Achieving that balance between strength, weight, and mission utility has been central to its development.”
This award follows the MULE’s previously announced transition from research and development into production.
Under the contract, SAFE will train operators on the supplied vehicles and provide technical support as they enter service.
Buscema added: “We are providing a mission-specific capability and standing behind the Marines who will use it. Training, technical support, and listening to the operators are all part of that responsibility.”
