Phantom Lights

Archive for the ‘Army’ Category

« Older Entries

Army Research Leads to First 3D-Printed Heavy-Fuel Engine

Saturday, November 7th, 2026

ADELPHI, Md. — Years of Army scientific research culminated in the successful flight demonstration of a 3D-printed heavy-fuel rotary-engine series-hybrid system, advancing power and propulsion science for future tactical unmanned aircraft systems.

Researchers at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory, designed the advanced drone propulsion through its Versatile Tactical Power and Propulsion essential research program.

“The program addresses critical power and propulsion challenges by advancing fundamental science that could enable drones to fly longer and faster, operate at higher altitudes, carry heavier payloads and perform in extreme environments while reducing logistics burdens,” said Dr. Chol-Bum “Mike” Kweon, DEVCOM ARL program manager. “For warfighters, the program has transitioned research findings to industry partners for maturation and integration into capabilities that could enable mid-sized drones to operate beyond line of sight, extending the reach of ground commanders and reducing risk to Soldiers.”

ARL researchers used advanced computational fluid dynamics modeling and a clean-sheet design approach to address the challenges of efficiently burning heavy fuel in a rotary engine. The work improved fuel atomization and vaporization while minimizing compressed-air and fuel-vapor leaks.

“The use of advanced manufacturing, including 3D metal printing, allowed us to rapidly redesign engine components based on lessons learned through experimentation,” Kweon said. “It enabled us to design an air-cooled engine that reduces propulsion-system size and eliminates the need for liquid coolant.”

Integrated with a novel 400-volt motor-generator system, the engine forms a heavy-fuel rotary-engine series-hybrid system designed to support vertical takeoff and landing operations in contested environments.

To demonstrate the propulsion system in flight, ARL worked with industry partners, including Griffon Aerospace, to develop an aircraft platform around the propulsion system. The novel series hybrid system powers the Group 3 midsized, unmanned aircraft system, Versatile Intelligence Controlled Tactical Operational Reconnaissance and Attack, or VICTOR UAS.

The Versatile Intelligence-Controlled Tactical Operational Reconnaissance and Attack, or VICTOR unmanned aircraft system, developed by DEVCOM ARL and industry partners demonstrating launch, flight and landing capabilities near Huntsville, Alabama. (U.S. Army video Casey Knighten)

The VICTOR essential research program generated many additional outcomes for the Army, industry and academia, including:

Collaborative research with more than 30 universities, more than 13 federal laboratories and more than 20 industry partners that resulted in hundreds of scientific journal publications in diverse areas including combustion chemistry, sensing and controls, material design, batteries and hybrid electric technology

Professionally developed hundreds of scientists and engineers now working in government, industry and academia

Research advances that address energy and propulsion challenges relevant to tactical-level energy independence

Technical data packages, design methods and reliability lessons applicable to future propulsion and drone design and integration efforts

Tens of patents and patent applications

Lessons from the essential research program will inform follow-on ARL research and industry development efforts, including the Persistent Unmanned Aircraft System for Logistics, Strike, Autonomy, and Reconnaissance, or PULSAR, an advanced drone-operation concept that enables multi-mission capabilities through a swarm of VICTOR drones.

The VICTOR UAS and the PULSAR concept will be made available to military partners for further experimentation and development. Industry partners will continue refining VICTOR UAS for other applications.

US Army DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory Public Affairs Office

Posted in Army, Drone, Guest Post, Power, Research | No Comments »

Arctic Angels Make History with the Division’s First-Ever Battalion Artillery Live Fire Evaluation

Wednesday, November 4th, 2026

DONNELLY TRAINING AREA, Alaska — Paratroopers from 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment (PFAR) made history within the 11th Airborne Division as they successfully executed the first artillery battalion live fire evaluation in the division’s history.

The battalion, based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, deployed more than 400 paratroopers and 100 tactical vehicles 350 miles north to the Donnelly Training Area near Delta Junction, Alaska. The 16-day exercise, which ran from Oct. 13-29, 2026, culminated in the successful completion of Artillery Table (AT) XVIII—the first of its kind within the 11th Airborne Division.

An Artillery Table XVIII evaluation is a critical milestone that validates an artillery battalion’s capability to provide direct, synchronized supporting fires for a mobile brigade combat team. Because an Artillery Table XVIII requires an external evaluation typically conducted by a Division Artillery (DIVARTY) headquarters, a capability the newly formed 11th Airborne Division is slated to stand up next year, the division’s Fire Support Element engineered a unique solution. They sourced external evaluators from I Corps, securing critical evaluator support from the 17th Field Artillery Brigade and artillerymen from 7th Infantry Division out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

“Executing the first-ever Table XVIII battalion live fire in the division is a monumental achievement for our paratroopers and the Division,” said Lt. Col. Ian P. Grundhauser, commander of the 2-377 PFAR. “This exercise laid the groundwork and established the model for what battalion-level evaluations will look like for the 11th Airborne Division, and ultimately for our DIVARTY when it stands up next year.”

The road to battalion qualification required the unit to first qualify all three of its firing elements, Alpha (Falcon), Bravo (Eagle), and Charlie (Raven) batteries, during Artillery Table XV battery live-fire evaluations. Once the batteries successfully qualified by firing hundreds of live rounds, the battalion transitioned into the complex Table XVIII phase.

During the final evaluation, the battalion was forced to operate in a highly contested environment. Oppositional forces conducted hit-and-run direct fire engagements against the artillery positions, but the primary threat came in the form of simulated enemy counterfire which is one of the greatest threats to modern artillery. To survive, paratroopers had to rapidly mass fires through simultaneous shooting from disparate, remote locations, and then immediately displace their howitzers to new firing points before the simulated enemy could retaliate.

The paratroopers achieved all training objectives and safely fired more than 600 artillery rounds, despite facing brutal subzero Arctic conditions. Throughout the 16-day window, temperatures plummeted to zero degrees Fahrenheit, winds howled at 35 knots, and the training area accumulated between 12 and 18 inches of snow.

“This evaluation proved that we can mass fires, maintain tactical survivability against a modern threat, and deliver devastating, precise lethality in some of the most unforgiving, Arctic conditions on the planet,” Grundhauser said. “Our Arctic Angels are trained, qualified, and ready to support the maneuver fight.”

Following the successful completion of this historic evaluation, the battalion redeployed south to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, establishing a tested precedent for cold-weather artillery operations in the Pacific theater.

Story by MAJ Ian Roth 

11th Airborne Division

Posted in Army, Fires, Guest Post | No Comments »

Former US Government Contractor Arrested for Allegedly Leaking National Defense Information and Stealing Night Vision Goggles

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026

James Thomas Ashbacher, 37, of Spring Lake, North Carolina, a former U.S. government contractor, was arrested by the FBI on Tuesday for allegedly leaking national defense information by posting the information on a popular social media site, unlawfully retaining other national defense information at his residence, and stealing night vision goggles from the U.S. Army’s Special Operations Command. 

Ashbacher was charged by an indictment unsealed Tuesday with unlawfully transmitting and retaining national defense information and with theft of government property.

According to the indictment, beginning in or about 2021, the defendant worked as an employee of a private company that provided security and emergency management services at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command facility in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. To perform the required functions of his employment, Ashbacher held a Top Secret security clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access. 

As further detailed in the indictment, Ashbacher photographed and removed without authorization videos and photographs containing images of classified military operations and transmitted the materials to a social media site. The classified materials were later re-posted by other users to a second social media site. Ashbacher asked a social media user in a private message to remove some materials and further stated that he was “trying to do some damage control.” A search of Ashbacher’s residence also revealed a classified award write-up that contained additional national defense information, along with a night vision goggle system specific to a military unit within Army Special Operations Command that had been reported missing.

The FBI Charlotte Field Office is investigating the case with substantial assistance from the U.S. Department of the Army’s Criminal Investigative Division.

Trial Attorney Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Logan Liles for the Eastern District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Via DOJ

Posted in Army, Press Release | No Comments »

3rd Special Forces Group Kicks Off ‘War Horse’ Lethality Exercise at Fort Bragg

Saturday, October 31st, 2026

FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Soldiers from across the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)’s Advanced Skills Company kicked off the unit’s first baseline lethality exercise to bolster the Group’s ability to tackle evolving global threats. Coined “War Horse,” 3rd Group is standardizing the baseline training pathway, building readiness and enhancing combat lethality for the Special Forces Operational Detachment Alphas (SFOD-A or ODA).

Across the Special Forces regiment, the ODA serves as the building block to execute unconventional warfare. Teams consist of 12 Army Special Forces Soldiers: a detachment commander, an assistant detachment commander and 10 highly skilled Soldiers with advanced training in weapons, intelligence, technical communications, medicine and engineering. Together, the ODA is highly autonomous, designed for self-sufficiency and independent operations in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments.

Across 3rd SFG(A), ODAs are adopting a new way to build operational readiness. Over the next eight weeks, the unit will assess more than 100 ARSOF Soldiers as they train on tasks across seven warfighting functions, developing combat effectiveness and building readiness for future operational requirements.

“Developing a centralized baseline lethality training model enables the Group to standardize training across our ODAs while maximizing the use of our resources,” said Army Col. Anthony Heisler, commander of 3rd Group, emphasizing the criticality of implementing War Horse across the Group. “This training is preparing our formation to fight and win under the most demanding and disadvantageous conditions. The nation’s expectation of us is simple; fight and win in any environment and War Horse will help us deliver on that commitment.”

War Horse, which pays homage to the group’s nickname as the “warhorse of the regiment,” consists of six distinct modules designed to build individual and team-level readiness. Special Forces Soldiers begin training with academic instruction, building a shared understanding of Special Operations’ role in large-scale combat operations, and how evolving global threats shape the operational environment.

“War Horse is designed to assess our Green Berets on 22 baseline lethality tasks to ensure we are ready to operate in a variety of different environments with partners from across the Joint Force,” said the commander of 3rd Group’s Advanced Skills Company. “We built this exercise to codify the foundational skills of our Special Forces, replicating the most complex and dynamic environments to ensure the Group is ready to execute the most demanding missions across the world.”

After a week of academics, ODAs develop tactical operations procedures, working with seasoned Special Forces Soldiers to strengthen their foundational knowledge of executing battle drills in a multitude of environments. A week of building this tactical proficiency helps ensure Special Forces Soldiers are prepared to conduct tactical mission planning and execution during the following module.

In the two weeks following tactical skills development, the Advanced Skills Company will put the Green Berets to the test, assessing combat readiness by testing tactical proficiencies throughout a variety of different combat scenarios. Special Forces Soldiers initial movements are conducted throughout Uwharrie National Forest, a key training site used in the assessment of Soldiers vying to earn the Green Beret during the Special Forces Qualification Course’s Robin Sage exercise. The infiltration is designed to test ODAs’ movements across mountainous terrain, rapid decision-making, and combat readiness under a variety of different conditions.

Following training at the Uwharrie National Forest, ODA’s return to Fort Bragg, continuing to build upon skills developed over the previous two weeks. For the next three weeks, teams of Special Forces Soldiers continue to build readiness, executing live fire ranges, employing and calling for indirect fire systems, conducting dismounted maneuvers during both day and night and completing an immersive medical training scenario that ensures detachments are prepared to operate independently with minimal logistical support.

At the end of War Horse, ODAs take lessons learned and continue team-level training progression specific to missions across Africa, 3rd SFG(A)’s area of responsibility.

3rd Group mans, trains, equips, educates, and globally deploys scalable Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations elements to conduct Special Operations by, with, and through, partners, surrogates, and allies to solve problems on behalf of Geographic Combatant Commanders, Theater Special Operations Command Commanders, US Ambassadors, and the Nation.

Story by MAJ Justin Zwick 

3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)

Posted in Army, Guest Post, SOF | No Comments »

JIATF-401 Leads a New Era in Counter-SUAS Defense

Friday, October 30th, 2026

The Joint Interagency Task Force 401 is leading the Department of War’s efforts to stay ahead of the rapidly evolving threat posed by small unmanned aircraft systems. As adversaries continue to expand their use of low-cost, highly adaptable drones for surveillance, disruption and attack, the DoW is transforming how it acquires technology, fields capabilities and integrates operations across the counter-UAS enterprise.

Established in August 2025, JIATF-401 serves as a centralized organization focused on rapidly delivering C-UAS capabilities while improving the policies, standards, partnerships and training needed to meet an increasingly evolving threat environment. By bringing together stakeholders across government, industry and the joint force, the task force is helping create a more integrated approach to homeland defense and warfighter readiness.

JIATF-401 AND THE NEED FOR A UNIFIED COUNTER-SUAS APPROACH

The establishment of JIATF-401 reflected a growing recognition that traditional processes were not designed to keep pace with the speed at which drone threats are evolving. sUAS have become increasingly accessible, adaptable and difficult to counter, creating new challenges for military operations, homeland security and critical infrastructure protection. Over the past year, JIATF-401 has focused on closing the gap between operational needs and fielded solutions.

According to JIATF-401 Rapid Acquisition Chief U.S. Army Col. Tony Lindh, “Over the past 12 months, JIATF-401 worked to translate operational requirements into fielded capabilities while improving the policies, standards, training and partnerships needed to build a more integrated C-UAS enterprise.”

That effort extends beyond technology alone. By bringing together organizations across the DoW, the federal government and private industry, the task force has focused on one central objective — rapidly delivering C-UAS capabilities to warfighters at home and abroad.

The results have been felt across multiple mission areas.

“In our first year, these efforts produced results across the C-UAS mission, strengthening homeland defense, improving joint force readiness and increasing warfighter lethality while laying the groundwork for faster and more effective responses to an evolving threat,” Lindh said.

The task force’s establishment reflects a strategic shift away from fragmented efforts toward a unified approach that can quickly identify capability gaps, streamline technology adoption and ensure operational units receive the tools they need at the speed of relevance. By placing authorities, resources and decision-making under one coordinated structure, the Department aims to break down silos, reduce redundancy and accelerate the pace at which counter?sUAS capabilities are developed and deployed.

A MULTI?AGENCY TEAM DRIVING TRANSFORMATION

One of the defining characteristics of JIATF-401 is its integrated organizational structure. Rather than approaching the drone threat through separate organizations operating independently, the task force was built to bring together expertise from across the military and federal government under a common mission.

“JIATF-401 was established as a jointly manned organization composed of Department of War personnel drawn from across the military services, with embedded interagency expertise,” Lindh explained. “To ensure a broader whole-of-government approach, the task force incorporates embedded subject matter experts from other federal departments and agencies to align with the C-sUAS mission.”

These subject matter experts represent federal partners such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Federal Aviation Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Department of Homeland Security; Department of State; Department of Transportation; Federal Communications Commission; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; and U.S. Secret Service.

The result is a team capable of addressing operational, technical, acquisition and policy challenges while maintaining unity of effort across the broader C-UAS enterprise.

NEW PROCESSES DESIGNED FOR SPEED AND ADAPTABILITY

At the heart of JIATF-401’s mission is the recognition that countering rapidly evolving drone threats requires faster and more adaptable processes than those traditionally used to acquire and field capabilities.

According to Lindh, “JIATF-401 utilizes unique procurement and acquisition authorities to bypass traditional timelines and deliver C-UAS capabilities at the speed of relevance.”

A key component of that effort, he said, is drones.mil, a first-of-its-kind centralized marketplace that aggregates demand and streamlines pathways to procurement. This allows authorized users across the joint force, the interagency, as well as allies and partners, to rapidly acquire validated, tested technologies.

The task force has also helped reshape how C-UAS operations are approached in the field.

“Operationally, JIATF-401 has transitioned from traditional air defense mindset of single systems providing near-perfect defense towards a layered ‘systems-of-systems’ approach,” Lindh explained.

That shift reflects a broader understanding that countering drone threats requires more than a single technology or platform.

“There is no silver bullet technology that will solve the drone problem,” Lindh said. “We need the right people, policy, permissions and training to build a layered defense against the threat of drones.”

To support that layered approach, JIATF-401 has focused on eliminating barriers to integration across the C-UAS enterprise.

In support of this ‘system-of-system’ approach, Lindh said the task force has eliminated the reliance on stove-piped systems by establishing an enterprise-wide agreement for a common tactical user interface and advanced standardized data protocols.

“This open architecture ensures plug-and-play interoperability, allowing sensors and effectors to rapidly integrate and share threat data,” he said. “These updates provide tailored, layered defenses to help warfighters and homeland security personnel adapt as sUAS threats continue to evolve.”

TESTING, FIELDING AND PREPARING FOR FUTURE CHALLENGES

Keeping pace with the threat requires more than rapidly acquiring technologies. It also requires continuous testing, evaluation and refinement to ensure new capabilities remain effective in a changing operational environment.

To that end, “JIATF-401 is rapidly delivering and testing C-UAS capabilities in multiple theaters,” Lindh said. “These updated operational capabilities and processes are evaluated in battle labs, during joint exercises and alongside partners and allies.”

The insights gained through those activities help inform both current capability development and long-term planning efforts. Looking ahead, the task force remains focused on building systems that can adapt as drone technologies continue to evolve.

“To plan for continually evolving drone threat, JIATF-401 is advancing software-defined, hardware-enabled systems that can be updated over the air, while establishing standard test guidelines and an enterprise-wide agreement for a common tactical user interface,” he said.

At the same time, JIATF-401 is leveraging acquisition reform to strengthen the broader industrial base supporting the mission.

Through our first-of-its-kind C-UAS marketplace, accessible on drones.mil, Lindh said we are “aggregating demand to expand the industrial base, lower costs and ensure U.S. and allied forces can rapidly procure vetted, interoperable capabilities at the speed of the evolving threat.”

Together, these efforts are positioning the DoW to anticipate emerging challenges rather than simply reacting to them.

WORKFORCE AND TRAINING FOR A MODERN C-SUAS MISSION

Technology remains a critical part of the C-UAS mission, but JIATF-401 emphasizes that success depends equally on trained personnel, effective policies and strong partnerships. Lindh explained that JIATF-401 works closely with industry, academia and across the military to help expand the definition of C-UAS capability beyond hardware.

Recognizing the importance of education and professional development, the organization has invested in training initiatives designed to expand expertise across the joint force.

“To ensure education and training is available, JIATF-401 assumed oversight of the Joint Counter-UAS University at Fort Sill and developed a Train-the-Trainer model to expand C-UAS expertise across the joint force,” he said.

Additionally, the task force has strengthened collaboration with interagency partners responsible for C-UAS training and knowledge sharing.

“We have also expanded our partnership with the FBI National Counter-UAS Training Center, where JIATF-401 personnel are embedded to support instruction, and share lessons learned with our interagency partners,” Lindh said. The NCUTC is the nation’s first dedicated federal hub for training law enforcement and security professionals to detect, assess and counter unlawful drone activity.

These efforts are helping build a workforce capable of supporting a layered defense against increasingly sophisticated drone threats, while ensuring lessons learned are shared across the broader C-UAS community.

One year after its establishment, JIATF-401 continues to reshape the Department of War’s approach to the C-UAS mission by accelerating capability delivery, strengthening interoperability and bringing together military, interagency and industry partners under a more integrated framework.

Through innovative acquisition pathways, enterprise-wide standards and a layered system-of-systems approach, the task force is helping close the gap between emerging threats and operational capabilities. Its efforts span acquisition, testing, training and partnership development, all aimed at delivering effective C-UAS solutions at the speed of relevance.

As drone technology continues to evolve, JIATF-401 is helping ensure the DoW remains prepared to meet today’s challenges while building the agility and adaptability needed to address the threats of tomorrow.

For more information, visit War.gov or go to CUAS.mil to learn more about the C-UAS marketplace.

For the latest Army Acquisition news and information, visit and subscribe to Behind the Frontlines.

By Cheryl Marino for Behind the Frontlines

Posted in Army, C-UAS, Guest Post | No Comments »

Hands-On Experiment: User Experimentation Accelerates Technology Adoption

Thursday, October 29th, 2026

In 2025, the Department of War (DoW) articulated delivering at speed as a top priority. Putting technology and capabilities into the hands of warfighters as fast as possible, when they need it, even ahead of need, can help warfighters maintain lethality and overmatch adversaries on the battlefield. Along with fielding the equipment faster, it must also be adopted and willingly used by warfighters for it to be effective. Sometimes adoption can be a bigger hurdle than clearing the process to fielding. Warfighters may opt out of using some equipment because it is not mission operable. It could be too heavy, counterintuitive, or there could just be an easier way to get the job done.

To overcome those challenges, the Portfolio Management Executive for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (PME CBRND) is bringing together scientists and engineers who are developing systems to interact with and observe warfighters in relevant operational scenarios using actual equipment—a process commonly known as experimentation— to identify areas of improvement and develop equipment that suits warfighters’ needs. This partnership has been successful in speeding up the acquisition process and ensuring technology adoption.

“To accelerate timelines, we have to get technology in front of the warfighter as early as possible,” said Jerrett Davis, deputy joint product lead for the Joint Project Manager for CBRN Special Operations Forces (JPM CBRN SOF). “Through experimentation, we can host demonstrations where our user groups evaluate and down-select from a range of S&T, government, and commercial equipment. This process provides a validated starting point that ensures the capability we build is not only adopted but is also delivered at the speed of relevance.”

Both experimentation and demonstrations are critical to ensuring that warfighters have a voice in the acquisition process. Experimentation increases knowledge in a specific domain, while demonstrations present and confirm what is already known. Experimentation identifies specific areas of uncertainty, custom designs and conducts experiments to address that uncertainty, whereas with demonstrations, the uncertainty has already been resolved.

“Experimentation and demonstrations are an important part of the process within the special operations community because they can be flexible and move faster given the urgency of the mission. Now we’re trying to expand experimentation efforts and spread the knowledge of how to incorporate it into non-SOCOM [Special Operations Command] programs,” said Osa Penny, director of strategic stakeholder engagements for PME CBRND.

Traditional acquisition is a regimented, sequential process that flows from requirements to science & technology to testing, acquisition and ultimately fielding. Although the user receives the final product in the end, they are not always intertwined in the process. Sometimes this results in a capability that is no longer relevant; or it may be difficult to use, unwieldy to hold; or a host of other issues that could have been adjusted if the user was able to provide early and consistent input. Experimentation maintains the traditional sequence but puts feedback and warfighter touchpoints at the center of the process, allowing for direct feedback and suggestions.

Experimentation exercises are designed using relevant warfighter operational concepts. During these exercises, PME CBRND engineers and their technology developers observe warfighters using the systems in various scenarios, actively capturing data and feedback for consideration into system refinements.

Recognizing the utility of experimentation in the development process, PME CBRND and its partners at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) created a space to conduct experimentation outside of formal exercises called the Foundry.

The Foundry is an established collection of functions and services designed to build, integrate, and assess potential capability sets for rapid delivery. It provides an opportunity for technical and operational evaluation to assess technical viability, interoperability, operational relevance and implementation factors. The current CBRN defense enterprise Foundry is located at DEVCOM CBC at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

“If we can secure service member buy-in ahead of Milestone B [the decision point where Service leadership decides if a product is mature enough to move forward into development], we can ensure resources are not wasted on developing a capability that will never be used during operations,” said Joshua Liles, assistant program manager, JPM CBRN SOF.

Liles leads several experimentation efforts with USSOCOM. He said that many of the methods SOCOM uses to speed up acquisition can be applied to non-SOCOM programs, but doing so requires thinking outside of the box and a willingness to pursue the ‘art of the possible.’

“There are many mechanisms available to support flexible agile acquisition, and some program managers are just not aware of them,” said Liles. “Many were trained to think of things in one way, but today in 2026, we have options. If PMs can think more along the lines of ‘what if we could?’ and then seek ways to accomplish it rather than trying to fit their program into a predetermined model, we can expand the possibilities and see unconventional solutions.” Some of those mechanisms include Title 10, Section 4023, Other Transactional Agreements, and rapid prototyping opportunities, all of which could pave the way for incorporating experimentation into the process earlier.

In 2026, a team working on handheld detectors successfully used Title 10, Section 4023 (a dedicated legal authority that allows the military to rapidly purchase or acquire emerging technologies and prototypes for testing and experimentation), bypassing the standard, lengthy federal procurement process to accelerate innovation to purchase commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) detector systems to use for warfighter experimentation during the 2026 Dragon Shield Exercise.

The team first investigated if there were any relevant commercially available systems submitted by vendors through the Joint Enterprise Technology Tool, the CBRN defense enterprise’s industry connector. When a few looked promising and fit within the requirements, the purchase was made under Title 10, Section 4023. They then created scenarios where warfighters tested the systems in would-be operational environments. Based on the feedback provided at that event, the team down selected two viable systems that will be further adapted and modified when the program officially starts in FY27. Starting the program with systems they know users will like and use allows system developers to focus on refinement using warfighter data points to help clear Milestone decisions faster.

In FY27, PME CBRND and its Joint Project Managers intend to have increased presence at experimentation events to include programs that support military communities beyond special operations forces. With a cross functional team that meets frequently to discuss logistics, strategy, and constantly keeps an eye on COTS technologies that are available for experimentation events, PME CBRND plans to get technology in the hands of warfighters as early as possible to learn, iterate and field.

By Kelly Burkhalter

Posted in Army, CBRNE, Guest Post, SOF | No Comments »

US Army Launches Project Gatekeeper to Accelerate Commercial Software Adoption, Streamline Cybersecurity Accreditation

Wednesday, October 28th, 2026

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army’s Office of the Chief Information Officer launched Project Gatekeeper on Oct. 23, a DevSecOps platform and security evaluation sandbox designed to transform how the service tests, accredits and deploys commercial software.

Project Gatekeeper, which comes online this afternoon, draws its authorization framework from the Army’s DevSecOps Platform, which provides a dedicated commercial-facing relay into the Army’s non-classified internet protocol router network ecosystem. The platform serves as a prescreening software assurance capability that enables commercial developers to submit code and containerized applications into isolated testing environments, providing automated security feedback and risk assessments in near-real time.

“The concept behind Project Gatekeeper is to set industry up for success to engage with the Army rapidly and securely,” said Gabe Chiulli, acting Army chief information officer. “Historically, companies had to navigate disparate, ad-hoc mechanisms simply to get their code evaluated. Project Gatekeeperreplaces operational bottlenecks with an automated, commercial-friendly intake pipeline that cuts evaluation cycles from months down to minutes while safeguarding our network perimeter.”

For years, commercial software providers – particularly non-traditional defense vendors and small technology startups – faced significant friction when navigating the Army’s cybersecurity accreditation process. Obtaining an authority to operate, known as an ATO, or military sponsorship, often required existing defense contracts, common access card credentials and approval timelines stretching from six to eight months or longer.

Using state-of-the-art security tooling, Project Gatekeeper conducts comprehensive automated code scans, identifies vulnerabilities, verifies compliance guardrails and provides commercial engineers with immediate remediation guidance. Rather than burdening software vendors with manual documentation, the platform’s automated pipelines generate standardized compliance artifacts and evidence dossiers needed by authorizing officials to make fast, risk-informed ATO determinations.

Vendor code runs in secure, containerized enclaves that prevent unauthorized exposure to operational data while allowing authentic testing against Army enterprise standards. Shortly after release, through super intelligence, known as SI, integration, the platform will also begin leveraging frontier security models from SI partners to strengthen existing security tools, provide aggregated security reporting and help prioritize remediation efforts.

Access to Project Gatekeeper is currently available to vendors with a Department of War common access card. Public access will become available soon through Login.gov, a secure gateway that enables authentication and vetting of personnel who are accessing the DevSecOps platform from the commercial internet.

Project Gatekeeper aligns with broader Department of War initiatives to maintain technological overmatch through agile acquisition and continuous software delivery. By bridging commercial innovation with mission-critical security standards, the platform ensures warfighters operate with modern, dependable digital tools.

“Our warfighters are digital natives who expect modern software capabilities to support their mission,” Chiulli added. “Project Gatekeeper establishes the automated foundation required to scale with the speed of commercial technology, ensuring our troops receive cutting-edge tools safely and without unnecessary administrative delays.”

Commercial technology firms and software developers interested in using Project Gatekeeper can access the platform here.

The Army’s Office of the Chief Information Officer leads the digital modernization of the U.S. Army, delivering global, modern and resilient information technology architectures, cybersecurity and cloud capabilities to enable multi-domain and joint force operations worldwide.

By U.S. Army Public Affairs

Posted in Admin, Army, C5ISR, Guest Post | No Comments »

General Dynamics Mission Systems Awarded US Army Contract for RDEP-P 2.0

Tuesday, October 27th, 2026

CHANTILLY, Va. – General Dynamics Mission Systems announced today it has been awarded a U.S. Army contract to deliver the Radio Delivery Effects Platform-Portable (RDEP-P) 2.0 capability.

The effort will leverage the General Dynamics Mission Systems Rampart 10 chassis, built and delivered for the C5ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) Mounted Form Factor (CMFF) program, as the core system for a ruggedized, modular platform supporting Army cyber and electronic warfare missions. RDEP-P 2.0 will serve as a critical host for integrating future cyber electromagnetic activities capabilities and software-centric modular mission payloads at the tactical edge.

The contract, awarded in September, includes prototype delivery, operator training, open-systems integration and life cycle support.

“Cyber and electronic warfare missions demand technology that can evolve as quickly as the threat,” said Rachel Oberc, vice president, General Dynamics Mission Systems. “RDEP-P 2.0 combines Rampart’s rugged, open architecture with software-centric mission payloads, giving the Army a flexible foundation to integrate new capabilities rapidly at the tactical edge.”

The contract includes a 12-month base period and options for additional production, fielding and sustainment support.

General Dynamics Mission Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), provides mission-critical solutions to the challenges facing our defense, intelligence and cybersecurity customers across all domains. General Dynamics Mission Systems employs approximately 12,000 people worldwide. For more information about the General Dynamics Mission Systems broad portfolio of capabilities, visit gdmissionsystems.com. 

Posted in Army, CEMA, Contracts, EW, Press Release | No Comments »

« Older Entries