Mobility | Press Release
SAFE Structure Designs Awarded Contract Valued at More Than $10 Million to Supply SAFE MULE to U.S. Marine Corps
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- Source
- SAFE Structure Designs / PR Newswire (opens in a new tab)
Las Vegas-based S.A.F.E. Structure Designs (SAFE) has been awarded a contract valued at more than $10 million to supply its SAFE MULE expeditionary logistics platform to the U.S. Marine Corps. Announced on October 13, 2026, the award covers an initial, low-quantity order, along with operator training and ongoing technical support for the Marines who will run the equipment.
SAFE is already in discussions about an additional quantity purchase anticipated in 2027, subject to finalized requirements, funding, and procurement decisions. The contract builds on SAFE’s earlier announcement that the SAFE MULE had moved from research and development into production (opens in a new tab), and on the work of SAFE Mobility Systems, the division behind SAFE’s ground-mobile support equipment.
Heavy Lift That Travels With the Force
What sets the SAFE MULE apart is that it pairs real lifting capability with a size and weight that can actually deploy. The tracked platform is designed to pick a loaded 463L military cargo pallet, up to 10,000 pounds, straight up off the ground and carry it on its own onboard cargo platform.
Even so, the system is light enough to ride inside a V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, and its low weight also supports carriage in a C-17’s aft cargo-ramp position. That matters at the far end of the logistics chain, where conventional forklifts and loaders can be hard to bring in or hard to operate. With ground pickup and cargo transport combined in one compact machine, personnel can move palletized supplies and mission equipment through austere environments.
Built for Ordnance Handling and Unimproved Terrain
The configuration supplied to the Marine Corps uses non-radio-frequency controls, so the SAFE MULE can be operated without an RF control link. That is especially relevant in ammunition and specialized ordnance-handling environments, where limiting RF emissions is an operational consideration. Handling individual loads remains subject to applicable military safety procedures and authorization.
An adjustable cargo platform with integrated rollers supports transfers between the MULE and compatible aircraft or transport vehicles. Its tracked mobility and compact footprint are built for moving cargo across unimproved terrain, reducing the need for separate loading and transport equipment.
Training and Support for the Marines Who Use It
The contract goes beyond delivering equipment. SAFE will train Marine Corps operators on the supplied systems and provide ongoing technical support as the SAFE MULE enters service, keeping the design, engineering, and manufacturing team that built the platform involved once it is in the field.
“Our commitment goes beyond supplying a tractor. 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. We are grateful for this opportunity to serve, and we give God the glory for the ability to do this work.”
Learn More About the SAFE MULE
The SAFE MULE is part of SAFE Mobility Systems, the division building ground-mobile support equipment for maintenance crews and fleet operations. Explore the SAFE MULE’s capabilities, attachments, and photo gallery, or contact SAFE to discuss your mission’s cargo-handling requirements.
