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Army Data Researchers Reshape Soldier-AI Collaboration to Strengthen, Accelerate Battlefield Planning

Wednesday, July 29th, 2026

FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Army data scientists designed an experimental AI-powered platform that could transform the military decision-making planning process, to compress planning timelines from days or hours to seconds and to enable rapid, adaptable decision-making on the future battlefield.

As part of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, or DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory, which is the Army’s sole fundamental laboratory, the Course Of Action Generative Pre-trained Transformer, or COA-GPT, is part of the U.S. Army’s largest experiment exercise at Project Convergence Capstone 6 at Fort Irwin, Calif., from July 17-29. The COA-GPT is a scientific platform designed to accelerate mission planning and provide an adaptable and decisive framework for planning, intelligence and command to solve critical human-AI integration challenges,

“By fusing generative AI with hard-won military expertise and doctrine, COA-GPT provides Army leaders and warfighters, the ability to generate and compare innovative workflow options,” said Dr. Amar Marathe, DEVCOM ARL COA-GPT program manager. “We are not replacing Soldiers with AI—we are arming them with it. COA-GPT integrates seamlessly into the workflow to make military planners faster, more efficient, and more effective.”

COA-GPT represents more than four years of partnership between ARL and the U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command’s Command and Control Future Capability Directorate. The team uses regular Soldier-driven experiments to characterize planning-related Soldier-AI integration challenges and ensure that COA-GPT reflects the direct feedback of the Soldiers the testbed platform is designed to support.

According to Marathe, a major scientific hurdle is clearly communicating intent to machines across a distributed team of Soldiers and systems. Through an industry partnership with Hyssos Tech, COA-GPT uses an advanced graphic interface within the testbed, enabling leaders across multiple echelons to use intuitive methods, like drawing on a shared map, to better direct agentic AI to reduce miscommunication, cognitive load and friction across personnel.

“We built COA-GPT with a plug-and-play architecture, giving researchers the freedom to easily swap components and test new AI capabilities without having to rebuild the entire system,” Marathe said.

The next steps include refinement of the COA-GPT testbed through rigorous Soldier feedback and industry collaboration. Future efforts will explore how generative AI shifts the traditional responsibilities of Army planning staffs, which new cognitive competencies planners need to prioritize, and how to optimize workflows, ultimately helping the Army maintain a decisive advantage.

By DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory Public Affairs Office

Posted in AI / ML, Army, Guest Post | No Comments »

Seeing Further, Striking Deeper: Unpacking the Army’s Launched Effects Portfolio

Monday, July 27th, 2026

FORT IRWIN, Calif.— To secure a decisive warfighting advantage, Army Aviation must project power beyond the enemy’s threat ring. By penetrating and defeating an adversary’s Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS) from a standoff distance, Army Aviation opens critical corridors that allow the subsequent infiltration of joint systems, precision fires, and other manned and unmanned assets.

Above the high-desert sands of Fort Irwin during Project Convergence-Capstone 6 (PC-C6), Army Aviation demonstrated decisive air-launched capabilities in contested airspace. The U.S. Army proved it was actively delivering integrated sensor-to-shooter lethality to the tactical edge by pairing two Active/Passive Infrared launch effects (LEs) — which successfully executed the mission to detect, identify, locate, and report (DILR) the threat — with a third, “lethal LE” Long-Range Precision Munition (LRPM) that executed the terminal strike.

PC-C6 is the premier Army-hosted experiment that allowsthejointforceandmultinational alliesand partnersto integrate people, equipment, and technologies to support continuous transformation efforts aimed at shaping how future warfighters willoperatein fast-paced, high-techenvironments.

Understanding the Portfolio: Finding and Finishing

The LE portfolio is not a single drone; it is a comprehensive ecosystem of diverse capabilities categorized by range (short, medium, long) and payload (lethal, non-lethal, electronic warfare, and enabling reconnaissance through sensing) tailored to meet specific mission requirements.

Through persistent experimentation at PC-C6, Army Aviation demonstrated the critical interplay between these variants. Operating deep within contested territory, reconnaissance assets like the LE-Medium Range (LE-MR) utilized the Integrated Tactical Network (ITN) within the Next Generation Command & Control (NGC2) ecosystem to push real-time targeting coordinates back to the corps echelon. By treating data as a weapon system, this seamless flow enabled rapid decision-making to determine follow-on kinetic operations. Once a target was identified, the lethal sub-variant of the portfolio was called upon to finish the mission.

What truly distinguishes the LE portfolio is its capacity for collaborative, autonomous operations. Rather than functioning as isolated assets, multiple LEs can dynamically network to operate as a “wolfpack,” overwhelming adversary air defenses through synchronized, multi-domain effects. Designed to be low-cost and attritable, these systems offer a highly tactically survivable solution for penetrating Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) environments. This strategic blend of autonomy and affordability allows commanders to project persistent sense and strike capability and maintain overmatch without unnecessarily risking manned aviation platforms.

From Prototype to Production: The LRPM Milestone

The primary lethal asset within this comprehensive ecosystem is the LRPM. At PC-C6, the Army achieved a significant operational milestone by validating the first production-line LRPMs when, in a separate demonstration, a manned aircraft successfully employed the munition, which independently identified and terminated a high-priority threat in contested environment.

Transitioning past the prototype phase distinguished the LRPM from existing standoff munitions. This successful evaluation solidifies its role as the dedicated lethal effect of the LE family and establishes a clear path for targeted FY27 fielding.

The Integration Enablers: LEDGR and UVC

The Launched Effects Dispenser for Ground and Rotorcraft (LEDGR) and Universal Vehicle Control (UVC) architecture act as a universal interface. Rather than building custom launch tubes and cockpit hardware for every new system, this standardized, modular architecture allows aircrews to plug, play, and control diverse LE payloads. These enablers will allow the Army to employ these capabilities at scale by FY27.

Maximizing Survivability and Lethality

The core philosophy driving this modernization is simple: push autonomous assets into harm’s way instead of manned aircraft.

“Launched Effects are not just stand-alone tools; they are networked combat enablers,”said Dan Bailey, Deputy Director, Aviation Future Capability Directorate (AFCD).”By standardizing our launch and control systems, we’re giving the Combat Aviation Brigades the flexibility to dynamically deploy multiple capabilities, share critical targeting data on the fly, and secure a decisive overmatch against peer adversaries.”

By deploying LE via standardized systems like LEDGR, commanders can maintain continuous pressure on the enemy while preserving valuable aviation assets. However, this capability extends far beyond just protecting aviation. By systematically dismantling the enemy’s theater long-range artillery, drone networks, and rocket systems, LE preserves the combat power of the ground maneuver force. Neutralizing these deep-area threats creates a protective umbrella for Maneuver Brigades, drastically increasing overall force survivability while enhancing mission success.

Looking Ahead: Future Technology Demonstrators

The Army also utilized PC-C6 to evaluate future concepts within the LE-MR category. Emerging technology demonstrators designed for significant speed and range were assessed as multi-use platforms capable of carrying both lethal and non-lethal payloads. While these specific systems are currently in the technology demonstration phase rather than formal programs of record, they represent the continuous evolution of the LE portfolio to meet future operational demands.

Through rigorous experimentation in realistic tactical scenarios, the Army ensured that when LE capability reaches the operational force, it will provide a decisive warfighting advantage.

By Nelson Ballew

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

Project Convergence Capstone 6 Experiments with Hammer of the Gods

Monday, July 27th, 2026

Fort Irwin, Calif. – A key highlight of Joint experimentation during Project Convergence Capstone 6 is the Army, Navy and Space Force coming together on the west coast to experiment with the effects of a technology called Hammer of the Gods.

Although Hammer of the Gods is a relatively new technological capability, it has already begun to play an important role in military experimentation. Hammer of the Gods is an emitter that provides an expanded suite of command-and-control (C2) and operational capabilities in a highly deployable, low-electromagnetic-signature, electronic warfare platform, delivering multi-domain effects at the forward edge of operations.

Land-based versions of the system have been featured in various exercises and demonstrations during the past two years, helping warfighters across the joint force explore new ways to operate in the electromagnetic spectrum. More recently, the maritime variant made its debut during PC-C6, marking the first time the technology was tested at sea in mid-July 2026. This milestone represents another step in the system’s ongoing development as military leaders continue evaluating how it can enable future operations across multiple domains and enhance Next Generation Command and Control and electronic warfare capabilities.

“Joint experimentation is how we prepare for future fights,” said Lt. Col. Darrin Hall, Chief, Modeling, Simulation and Integration (S7/8), U.S. Space Forces Pacific. “By integrating space, cyber and conventional forces into realistic scenarios, we strengthen our ability to operate as one joint team in contested environments.”

PC-C6 serves as a critical venue for Army, joint, and multinational allies and partners to integrate and experiment with future warfighting capabilities.

The original plan for Hammer of the Gods was ambitious. Organizers intended to demonstrate both the land and maritime-based versions of the system while supporting learning objectives from the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command and U.S. Space Forces Pacific.

The experiment successfully proceeded with support from U.S. Space Forces Pacific and Naval Base San Diego, enabling the integration of the maritime variant into PC-C6. Their collaboration highlighted the value of joint experimentation, demonstrating how multiple forces can work together across multiple domains to test new electromagnetic spectrum capabilities and gather insights for future operations.

“This experiment proved that counter-PNT capabilities can be deployed, controlled and recovered in real-world maritime operations while extending operational reach through resilient mesh networking. It demonstrates the value of joint collaboration in advancing operational readiness,” Hall said.

A key focus of the experiment was understanding Positioning, Navigation, and Timing, a capability that underpins many of today’s operations. From helping troops navigate and synchronize communications, to enabling precision-guided systems and supporting uncrewed platforms, reliable PNT information is essential across nearly every domain of modern combat.

“Positioning, Navigation and Timing is the foundation of modern military operations. Understanding how to protect and operate through PNT disruption ensures our forces can continue to shoot, move and communicate effectively,” Hall said. “Counter-PNT effects enhances lethality by impacting the backbone for pinpoint targeting via long range artillery, guided missiles, and cruise munitions. Without PNT data, modern weapon precision drops sharply, resulting in delayed missions, missed objectives, or severe collateral damage.”

Recent conflicts have highlighted just how dependent military forces have become on these capabilities. When GPS signals or other PNT services are disrupted, the effects can ripple across communications, navigation, and overall mission effectiveness. As a result, leaders are increasingly exploring how forces can continue to operate in environments where these services are degraded or unavailable.

Experiments during PC-C6 provide an opportunity to study those challenges in realistic operational settings. By testing technology like the Hammer of the Gods, commanders can better understand how to shape the electromagnetic environment, improve resilience against PNT disruptions, and refine concepts for operating effectively in contested environments.

Story by SGT Sar Paw, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Posted in Army, EW, Guest Post, Maritime | 1 Comment »

Army Mad Scientist Speaker Series – Drone Dominance With COL (Ret) John Antal

Sunday, July 26th, 2026

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

New Army Command and General Staff College Course Creates AI Sharpshooters

Sunday, July 26th, 2026

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — Before any Soldier steps up to a sniper hide or takes a precision shot, they must first know their weapon inside and out.

From day one of basic training, Soldiers are taught to field-strip their rifles, understand the mechanics of the bolt carrier group, and know exactly what to do when the weapon malfunctions.

It isn’t magic; it is simply a tool of the trade.

The U.S. Army Command and General Staff College’s newest AI Basics elective course is applying that same philosophy to Artificial Intelligence.

Day one of the new course started with a question: How many people know how their rifle works?

“AI is just another weapon system,” Instructor and Curriculum Developer Lt. Col. Timothy Williams said. “This class is going to teach you how AI works to that level – how it is built, how it is trained, what it is you’re actually interacting with when you interact with these platforms. We’re going to teach you how to use AI not just as a rifleman, but a sharpshooter.”

Early in the Command and General Staff School’s 2026 Command and General Staff Officer Course academic year, fellow AI elective Instructor and Curriculum Developer Lt. Col. Anthony Joyce and Williams observed students using AI in varying levels of expertise.

The 48-hour elective was created to provide structure and a kind of basic training for AI mechanics of Large Language Models, what tokens are, and how data is ingested, similar to understanding how gas operates the bolt in an M4.

The elective is a two-pillar design focusing on foundational understanding of AI and how to use the technology effectively and then using that knowledge to create agents to solve real-world Army problems.

“We teach any AI user level how to leverage AI to make tools rapidly for warfighting organizations. Service men and women know what their tools need to do, now they can make them themselves,” Joyce said.

A foundational understanding of how AI works is critical to enabling the officers to go beyond using technology to solve basic staff work problems, similar to basic training, Joyce said.

By demystifying the technology, the CGSC elective is transforming staff officers from basic users firing generic prompts downrange into digital marksmen capable of surgical, data-driven precision, he explained.

“If you know how to make slides, you know how to do so with any tool. The same is what we’re teaching here in this class,” he said. “If you can build agents leaving this class you will be able to build agents across all the joint force platforms and softwares.”

A total of 130 students took the new elective. Nearly two thirds of them had little to no experience using AI in an operational environment.

According to both Williams and Joyce, that is 130 Soldier developers who, at their next units, will be AI agent ambassadors, effectively dispersing the no-cost software creation skill across the force.

The population that took the first AI elective represented not only U.S Army students, but joint service members and international students from allied partner nations.

The large variety of knowledge bases, services and nations challenged Joyce and Williams to create a curriculum that was deliberate in its delivery.

“One of the most surprising things to me about this elective course was the diversity of military occupational specialties [signing up to take it]. Everything from chaplains, Medical Corps, MPs, to the more obvious MI and Signal,” he said. “However, no matter their starting point, they all achieved the overall learning objectives that will enable the entire Army, joint force, and partner forces: they all became Soldier Developers.”

For Zambia Army student, Lt. Col. Victor Simukonda, the AI elective course was another means of building interoperability. He noted AI is something militaries across the globe are learning and this course demonstrated a U.S. Army capability that could be transferred.

“It gives us [international students] a better view, and understanding of the differences in capabilities. But this also is an opportunity to bridge that gap,” Simukonda said. “It helps us all start thinking of applying this in a similar manner that can help us achieve better interoperability and be able to work as allies and partners.”

At the end of the course, Simukonda created Vanguard, a modular command intelligence system, intended to assist soldiers in understanding doctrine and military information.

In building the agent, Simukonda learned more than just how AI works, but its intended application, problem solving.

“My biggest takeaway was to stop looking at artificial intelligence as merely tools that we create, but [stet] look at them as in things that help us solve problems,” he said. “It’s changing the mindset from a tools sort of mindset to a problem mindset. Sort of asking ‘what kind of an AI am I creating?’. We were encouraged to think of what are the problems that we’re trying to solve, and that ties into the human aspect of this system, or these systems that we’re creating are meant to help solve human problems.”

Similarly, Maj. Andrew Fletcher, a civil affairs officer, came into the elective course with very little experience with AI, but the staff and faculty encouraged him to take advantage of the professional military education environment that allows for space for experimentation.

The course did more than teach foundational understanding of what AI is, Fletcher explained, it changed how he thought.

“Once you understand how AI thinks and how it makes use of information in order to get you the answers that you’re asking for, it completely changes your mental framework for how you view information,” he said. “Now when you receive data, instead of viewing it and categorizing it how you used to, you start to view it in a way that can be made use of by AI. And I think that mental shift was key.”

After graduation, Fletcher transitioned to the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion under the Special Forces Group, taking with him his AI agent that assists in a secondary effect of the Civil Affairs force modernization efforts.

Smaller, more mobile detachments are capturing critical data points at an increased rate, he explained, generating a need for the ability to analyze and share outcomes.

AI was the perfect, low-cost solution, that goes beyond civil affairs, Fletcher said.

“With some really basic instruction and just ‘how to’ on how to use some of the tools, I think Soldiers everywhere throughout the Army would be really surprised by how powerful their knowledge of their job, paired with very little technical expertise and what it’s able to produce, and the power and impact that they’re able to have on the force,” he said.

For Joyce and Williams that impact is the introduction of no-cost software solutions being created by the Soldiers who can easily identify the problems the solutions can solve.

“Innovation at the speed of war is what is going to win battles in the future and war in the future. And traditionally in the military, we had to rely on our defense industrial base, which are great partners to have, but we relied on them for absolutely everything software related at scale. We now necessarily don’t have to rely on them to solve small problems, and we could allocate our budget, time and effort to more complicated problems that they’re suited to solve,” Joyce explained.

AI is the future of warfare, according to Williams, making CGSC the ideal place for electives like this one to emerge, reform, and eventually be pushed across the force.

CGSC is a generating force, Joyce explained, educating the largest population of the Army’s field-grade officers.

“If we can train the field-grade officer to be a Soldier developer, we are the generating force for the Army of that capability, which goes out to the operational force, implements it, trains their subordinates and then creates the flywheel,” he said. “It’s reciprocal because now these captains that come here to CGSOC, they are further along in the pipeline of using AI technology than the existing cohorts are.”

The prediction of each future academic year’s students having more AI-related knowledge and skills has already encouraged curriculum adaptations.

Williams explained some of the initial lessons of the AI Basics Course will be integrated into the first Common Core lessons of the academic year, exposing students to AI even sooner in PME than before.

In addition, the future of the AI elective will expand to the students’ needs, he said, with the potential of evolving into a more advanced elective.

The number of CGSOC students leaving with AI proficiency and potentially agents to solve some of the Army’s most persistent problems will nearly triple next year, Joyce explained.

Students and instructors described their excitement to watch the lessons learned and agents applied at divisions and corps across the force.

“There’s this idea that the Army has over a million people in it, and if we put this capability in the hands of a million Soldiers, the Army can become the world’s largest software developer overnight. And that’s powerful to think about. The Army didn’t start with that role, but we have that capability now to generate that,” Joyce said.”

By Sarah Hauck, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Public Affairs Office

Posted in AI / ML, Army, Guest Post, Profession of Arms, Training | No Comments »

BLADE Awarded US Army “Project Sustainment” Contract for Advanced Autonomous Logistics

Friday, July 24th, 2026

FREDERICKSBURG, Va., July 23, 2026 — HDT Robotics, LLC dba BLADE, a leader in highly capable robotic systems, announced today its selection as one of five industry partners for the U.S. Army’s Project Sustainment initiative. This critical National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC) program focuses on automating supply distribution in contested environments to keep soldiers out of harm’s way.

To meet the demanding requirements of the contract, BLADE’s Advanced Battle Lab is putting forward the Dire WOLF, a rugged six-wheeled diesel-electric hybrid variant of its proven WOLF-X robotic combat vehicle. The Dire WOLF represents the culmination of over two decades of BLADE’s cutting-edge unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) engineering and production experience.

Engineered for the Contested Tactical Edge

The Dire WOLF is specifically designed to conquer long- and short-range logistics, featuring heavy-duty capabilities engineered for extreme environments:

High payload capacity: Capable of transporting thousands of pounds of mission-essential cargo.
Unmatched mobility: High-horsepower hybrid diesel-electric powertrain, pivot-steering for turns on a dime, and the ability to traverse steep slopes, cross wide gaps, and easily climb vertical two-foot steps for exceptional offroad maneuverability.
Survivability: Equipped with non-pneumatic Michelin Tweels that eliminate the risk of flats, ensuring superior traction and uninterrupted mobility through densely vegetated or debris-strewn and complex off-road terrain.
Power generation: Ample energy storage from an onboard battery pack composed of safe battery chemistry to deliver exportable power at the forward edge of the battlefield.

“We’re excited to partner with the Army, NAMC, Michelin and Carnegie Robotics on this critical program,” said Tom Van Doren, President of Robotics, BLADE. “The Dire WOLF joins the Hunter WOLF and WOLF-X pack to directly reduce risk to the warfighter. By leveraging advanced autonomy and proven UGV performance, we are ensuring that essential supplies reach soldiers at the tactical edge – safely and reliably.”

About BLADE: For nearly 90 years we’ve operated as HDT – cutting through the impossible to deliver solutions that protect warfighters, secure assets and deflect enemy threats. As BLADE, we’ve sharpened our focus to redefine mobility, survivability, and operational superiority in contested environments. BLADE develops rugged, modular robotic systems to perform tasks in hazardous and demanding environments. Building on a legacy of advanced government and industrial robotics development, the company engineers precision manipulators and mobile platforms that reduce personnel risk while enabling critical operations in remote, contaminated, or unsafe environments. Forged by our legacy, sharpened for tomorrow’s mission.

SOURCE HDT Robotics LLC, dba BLADE

Posted in Army, Contracts, Logistics, Press Release, Robotics | Comments Off on BLADE Awarded US Army “Project Sustainment” Contract for Advanced Autonomous Logistics

Fort Indiantown Gap Expands UAS, Counter-UAS Training

Thursday, July 23rd, 2026

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. — As the battlefield continually shifts toward unmanned aircraft systems, Fort Indiantown Gap is expanding its UAS and counter-UAS training opportunities.

Several ranges at the installation have been altered in recent months to allow for UAS and counter-UAS training so service members are prepared when they are deployed to hostile environments, said Kurt Spieles, the Gap’s range program coordinator.

“Small, unmanned aircraft systems have become a defining and complex component of the modern battlefield,” Spieles said. “Soldiers and units training at Fort Indiantown Gap need realistic, hands-on experience operating UAS for their own missions and, just as critically, detecting, tracking and defeating hostile drones before they can inflict harm upon them.

“Counter-UAS proficiency is no longer a niche skill set, but a core survivability requirement for any unit with the potential to deploy,” Spieles added.

Range 35, which is located in the training corridor between Blue and Second mountains, now includes a quadcopter and fixed-wing live-fire concept that allows users to engage drones with M249 or M240B machine guns.

The concept includes the capability to engage fixed-wing drones referred to as “wings,” fixed-wing gliders deployed by payload-capable quadcopters, and “attritable” first-person-view, or FPV, quadcopter drones.

Range 20, which is located along Range Road, has been modified to incorporate a counter-UAS team into a fire and maneuver squad. A team can bound forward on the range and engage ground targets with 5.56mm rounds and sporting clays with shotguns.

A large trench was also added that allows users to take up a defensive posture and engage clays with shotguns or ground targets with rifles. Clay throwers can be placed in various locations on the range and are thrown toward users to replicate high-speed one-way attack drones.

Together with the UAS Training and Innovation Facility, the range program is developing an inert FPV gunnery range on Range 6A, which is directly across Range Road from the UASTIF.

This range will allow pilots to fly FPV one-way attack drones directly into targets using a soft impact target backstop, constructed of large wooden frames with netting similar to that found in a batting cage. This allows multiple impacts with little to no damage to the drones.

Additionally, the range program facilitated the transport and assembly of an FPV drone maneuver training facility on the UASTIF grounds. Pilots can fly around and through shipping containers that have been modified and arranged to resemble a small village.

Fort Indiantown Gap continuously updates its ranges and training areas to mirror real-world threat evolution rather than static, outdated concepts, Spieles said.

“This includes integrating small UAS operations and counter-UAS response into range and maneuver training and developing in-house sUAS capability, including 3D-printed airframes to keep pace with rapidly changing commercial and military drone technology at a fraction of traditional timelines and costs,” Spieles said. “This adaptive approach ensures soldiers train against realistic, current threat profiles rather than legacy assumptions.”

In addition to the changes at these ranges, numerous upgrades are currently underway at the UASTIF, which was selected recently to host two significant UAS training programs. Upgrades at the UASTIF include two classrooms, a simulator room, a locker room and office space.

Col. Kevin Potts, Fort Indiantown Gap’s garrison commander, said that as the threat environment on the modern battlefield continues to evolve, the integration of UAS and counter-UAS training is crucial.

“At Fort Indiantown Gap, our goal is to ensure that our service members have access to modern, realistic training through innovation and outside-the-box thinking,” Potts said. “Through this we are providing ranges for UAS and counter-UAS training in order to equip our warfighters with the critical skills they need to win on a multi-domain battlefield.”

By Brad Rhen

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

AV Awarded $117.3 Million US Army Production Contract for P550

Tuesday, July 21st, 2026

Initial Order Enhances LRR and Advances Army Drone Dominance Initiative with AV’s Autonomous Group 2 eVTOL UAS

ARLINGTON, Va., — July 20, 2026 — AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain autonomous systems, today announced it has been awarded a $117.3 million contract by the U.S. Army for its P550™ electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) unmanned aerial system in support of the Army’s Long Range Reconnaissance program, advancing the Army’s push to field scalable, adaptable capabilities for modern warfare.

The award was issued under a Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) through a competitive Call for Solutions (C4S) under the U.S. Army’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Marketplace initiative, a centralized digital platform designed to accelerate the procurement of vetted drone technologies.

Through this award, AV will provide 82 P550 uncrewed aircraft systems in support of the Army’s Battalion Reconnaissance (UAS) effort, a move that represents the initial full-rate procurement of the P550 system and reflects the Army’s commitment to rapidly fielding proven commercial capabilities that enhance long-range reconnaissance, autonomy, and distributed operations.

The award further reinforces AV’s role in delivering scalable, mission-ready solutions aligned with the Army’s modernization priorities.

“In today’s battlespace, adaptability is no longer an advantage, it’s a requirement,” said Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at AV. “The P550 gives maneuver forces the ability to rapidly reconfigure, extend their reach, and deliver effects across domains, all while operating in contested environments where speed and autonomy are decisive.”

An autonomous Group 2 eVTOL UAS, AV’s P550 has become a staple of reliability for America’s armed forces and allies by enabling smarter and safer operations through its modular open systems approach (MOSA), which supports seamless integration of third-party payloads, datalinks, and mission planning software to adapt to evolving mission requirements.

With a multi-sensor payload capacity of up to 15 pounds, including enhanced lethality options, and up to five hours of all-battery endurance, the P550 delivers sustained, mission-tailored performance across intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), precision strike, electronic warfare, and communications relay missions in air, ground, and maritime operations. The system can be reconfigured in the field in less than five minutes, allowing operators to hot-swap payloads and batteries without tools.

“What operators consistently tell us is that they need systems that can adapt at the speed of the mission, not hours or days later,” said Trace Stevenson, President of Autonomous Systems at AV. “AV’s P550 delivers that advantage, enabling units to reconfigure in minutes. It reduces the burden on operators while expanding what a single platform can achieve.”

Purpose-built for dynamic, contested environments, AV’s P550 enhances situational awareness and force protection with integrated targeting and precision strike capabilities. Its AI-driven autonomy enables smarter, safer operations while reducing operator workload in complex mission sets. Designed for maneuver forces, it delivers a multi-role capability that can be reconfigured in minutes to meet evolving mission demands.

Posted in Army, Contracts, Press Release, UAS | No Comments »