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Department of War Confirms Modular Handgun System (MHS) is Safe and Reliable

Friday, August 21st, 2026

PICATINNY ARSENAL, NJ –

Despite public speculation and online misinformation regarding the pistol’s safety, Project Manager Soldier Lethality (PM SL), the Department of War’s official lead for the Modular Handgun System (MHS), confirms that there has never been a mechanically-caused accidental discharge. All investigated incidents of alleged “uncommanded discharges” have been traced back to the trigger being pulled.

Rigorous Testing and Safety by Design

The MHS, comprised of the M17 (full-size) and M18 (compact) 9mm striker-fired pistols, is a thoroughly tested, safe, and reliable weapon system for the modern Warfighter. Since the first systems were fielded to the 101st Airborne Division in 2017, the MHS has replaced the legacy M9 and M11 pistols and is now in service with over 400,000 pistols across the U.S. Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy.

The MHS was designed with four internal safety mechanisms (primary sear notch, secondary sear notch, striker safety lock, and a disconnector safety mechanism) and features an external ambidextrous manual safety, bringing the total number of safety mechanisms to five.

Before fielding, the MHS underwent extensive Production Verification Testing, where over 200 pistols fired more than 1.5 million rounds. This testing regimen included evaluations for reliability, durability, accuracy, rough handling, drop safety, and performance in extreme environmental conditions. Early in this process, engineering changes were implemented to address and rectify all initial drop-test concerns, and these updates were applied to every MHS pistol before it was fielded.

To ensure quality and safety during production, the government performs Lot Acceptance Testing (LAT) for each production lot. During LAT, Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) Quality Assurance Representatives (QARs) randomly selects a statistically significant number of samples from each production lot to undergo LAT. If any weapon fails LAT, the entire lot is rejected. All lots of weapons produced to date have passed LAT prior to being fielded to warfighters.

Investigating Field Incidents

When a potential uncommanded discharge is reported in the field, the Army follows a stringent investigation protocol to determine the cause. According to the Army Safety Management Information System 2.0 (ASMIS 2.0), reported firearms mishaps account for less than 0.006% of all MHS pistols issued.

When a report is filed within ASMIS, the weapon is promptly shipped to the contractor in the same configuration as it was when the incident occurred. Once the weapon arrives at the contractor’s facility, the Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Small/Medium Caliber Weapons Branch Chief is notified. DCMA will have the contractor open the box to verify the serial number. After the serial number is verified, the weapon is escorted and secured under U.S. Government property control pending the investigator’s arrival. Once the investigator is present, the weapon is brought out of the property cage and the investigation begins.

The investigation process is meticulous:

Visual inspection of the weapon in its current state
Examination of the weapon to check all safeties, internal and external, are functioning correctly
The weapon is taken into the range where it is functionally tested with live ammunition. At least 1 (One) 21 round magazine is used to verify proper function of all safeties.
After the range, the weapon is moved back to the armorer’s bench where the striker operation is thoroughly tested
Finally, the weapon is broken down to each individual part to ensure all the parts look normal.
After this, the weapon is cleaned and returned to the original unit.

To date, all investigated incidents of alleged “uncommanded discharges” have been traced back to the trigger being pulled, and not due to an issue with the firearm. Investigators have been unable to induce a discharge without disengaging the manual safety and pulling the trigger.

Joint Service Confidence

Most recently, a review of the MHS was initiated after the Air Force reported a potential “uncommanded discharge” involving the tragic loss of an Airman. As the lead for the MHS program, PM SL immediately engaged with our Air Force partners to assist in developing and implementing a Supplemental Inspection Criteria (SIC) as a precautionary action to investigate the incident and validate the weapon’s integrity.

The USAF’s SIC effort mandated a 100% inspection of the DAF’s “in-use” M18 inventory. It is confirmed that of the nearly 114,000 pistols inspected to date, none exhibited any conditions that could have led to an uncommanded discharge.

PM SL is confident that the MHS pistol continues to meet and exceed that standard for the entire Joint Force. The DAF’s Director of Security Forces, Brig. Gen. Brian Filler, affirmed this, stating, “It can now be stated that the M18 is safe and reliable for DAF missions.”

By CPE Ground Army

Posted in Army, Guest Post, weapons | Comments Off on Department of War Confirms Modular Handgun System (MHS) is Safe and Reliable

Hanwha Wins US Army Mobile Tactical Cannon Contract

Thursday, August 20th, 2026

Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA) announced that it has won a contract from the U.S. Army to deliver prototype K9 Mobile Howitzers (K9MH) for the Army’s new Mobile Tactical Cannon (MTC) program. The agreement provides for the accelerated delivery of six prototype MTC systems, with an option for an additional 12. This award marks HDUSA’s first major contract with the U.S. Army.

HDUSA will provide a technically superior and rapidly fieldable 155 mm artillery system that supports the U.S. Army’s modernization and long-range precision fires objectives. With more than 2,500 K9 Howitzers already fielded globally, Hanwha is uniquely positioned to partner with the U.S. Department of War (DoW) to establish high-volume industrial capacity centered around the company’s wartime production ethos.

Hanwha’s phased-in localization strategy with domestic production and support means America’s defense industrial base will benefit from advanced manufacturing techniques, demonstrated technology, and good jobs. HDUSA is establishing a Phase I site in Opelika, Alabama, that will serve as the U.S. integration and test facility for Hanwha’s family of K9 Mobile Howitzers. HDUSA signed a three-year lease as part of the company’s strategic commitment to invest in the U.S. artillery system supply chain, enhance America’s combat vehicle industrial base, and serve as a long-term artillery modernization partner to the U.S. Army.

“We’re honored that the U.S. Army has selected Hanwha’s K9 Mobile Howitzer to fulfill its Mobile Tactical Cannon requirement. The K9MH is the total artillery solution and will be the centerpiece of Army Fires’ transformation into a more modern, more lethal force,” said Mike Smith, Hanwha Defense USA COO and President of Land Systems. “The U.S. Army’s selection is a testament to our track record of delivering devastating capability at speed, at scale, on cost, and onshore. As the wheeled variant of the K9, the K9MH provides an expansion path towards a tracked capability with designed-in margin for the future fight. And with such a capability, that fight will not be a fair one.”

Compatible with the Army’s full suite of munitions, the K9MH’s selection means the U.S. has now joined nearly a dozen allies who share a global industrial network and supply chain.

“Hanwha’s global supply chain and local production experience in Australia, Egypt, Poland, and Romania demonstrate a proven commitment to local execution we’re excited to bring to the U.S.,” said Michael Coulter, Hanwha Defense USA CEO. “Localization is central to Hanwha’s global business model, leveraging our global leading industrial technology and process in Korea to create sovereign industrial strength in the U.S., whether it be in shipbuilding, munitions, or combat vehicles.”

“This award reflects Hanwha’s enduring commitment to the United States and to strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base,” said Hanwha Group Chief Strategy Officer Alex Wong. “We are not simply delivering a system — we are building an American manufacturing enterprise, transferring technology, and creating a lasting foundation for broad industrial collaboration. Hanwha is invested in America for the long term.”

“We’re focused on creating a U.S.-anchored K9 Mobile Howitzer manufacturing network — with Opelika, Alabama, as the current Phase I launch point — that can deliver advanced Mobile Tactical Cannons at the speed and scale the U.S. Army needs,” said Jason Pak, Hanwha Defense USA Head of Land Systems-Artillery.

HDUSA will continue to evaluate future phases and locations as the company expands its U.S. artillery systems footprint and production capacity. The company is committed to engaging with suppliers and developing the workforce of the future necessary for long-term sustainment and technology insertion activities.

At a time when the U.S. is placing renewed focus on strengthening America’s defense industrial base, HDUSA believes its combination of mature capability and industrial commitment offers both near-term relevance and long-term value.

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

The Army Azimuth

Thursday, August 20th, 2026

Since 1775, the United States Army has defended our republic and carried the torch of liberty through suffering and sacrifice. From the frozen Delaware at Trenton to the bluffs of Normandy, the jungles of Guadalcanal, and the winter hills of Chosin, American Soldiers faced enemies in brutal conditions and held the line. They answered the Nation’s call. One hundred and ninety campaign streamers fly from our Army flag, each testifying to the valor of our forebearers. Their legacy is ours to uphold.

Answering the Nation’s Call

The Army serves the Nation. We preserve peace and security, support our national objectives, and overcome any force whose aggression imperils us. Our strategic direction is clear:

Defend the Homeland. We secure our Nation’s borders, protect the American people against attack, and respond to domestic crises — these are our most sacred duties. A secure Western Hemisphere is a prerequisite for joint power projection.

Warfighting. America’s Army applies violence decisively on battlefields marked by unrelenting speed, precision lethality, and persistent observation. We dominate from the outset to control escalation, prevent prolonged war and counter enemies who employ stand-off weapons, including unmanned systems and WMD.

Project Power On and From the Land. The Army projects land power by generating combat credible formations, prepositioning capabilities where they matter most, and strengthening the capacity of our Allies and partners. The Army maintains units postured to respond immediately to crises and contingencies regionally and worldwide.

The Army is the Foundation of the Joint Force

The Army has aggressively pursued change to prepare for large scale combat operations. We shifted from brigade modularity to a force organized for multidomain operations at all echelons. We fielded long range precision fires that strike deep and sink ships at sea, evolved air defenses for skies saturated with unmanned systems, upgraded theater logistics, expanded terrestrial intelligence, and established new units integrating space, cyber, electronic warfare, and artificial intelligence into command and control.

The work of change continues. Today we emphasize the fundamentals of Soldiering, ensuring a strong grounding in warrior ethos, individual Soldier readiness, and small unit tactical skills. As the Army campaigns around the world, we turn our focus to operational readiness to achieve our central task: To be ready to fight and win the battles and wars of the Nation.

A ready Army is the foundation of the Joint Force, providing a range of capabilities that underpin joint operations and give our leaders immediate options. We employ four operational warfighting elements — convergence, strike, close battle, and endurance — to deliver joint all domain maneuver. We bind the regional land power networks of Allies and partners, offering distinct advantages for access and interoperability.

What Land Dominance Demands

U.S. Army forces must be prepared to overcome the most complex challenges our adversaries can impose and master an operational environment that looks fundamentally different from the battlefields of yesterday. To prepare for modern war, the Army will:

Embrace a Warrior Mindset. We possess the grit to endure hardship and the courage to act honorably. Our Soldiers and Civilians uphold high standards and seek continuous development. Leaders at all echelons see Soldiers as the decisive advantage and prioritize training mission essential tasks.

Outpace our Adversaries. We learn, innovate, and adapt faster by pairing our human ingenuity and judgment with advanced technologies like autonomy and artificial intelligence. Our professional military educational institutions teach the essence of warfighting, and our combat training centers validate readiness through crucibles designed to replicate the challenge of combat. Experience, reflection, and accountability propel our force to excellence.

Gain Positional Advantage. We gain positional advantage through posture that comes in many forms: from forward basing to campaigning to stockpiling supplies. We continually reinforce forward areas, harden lines of communication, and exploit opportunities.

The next war will not look like our last. Yet there are timeless truths in war. The battlefield does not forgive weakness. Land combat in the modern era will demand every ounce of rigor, endurance, and courage we possess. Every shortcut in training and lapse in discipline will be paid for in blood.

This is the Army we must be: disciplined, lethal, and relentless — an Army that closes with and destroys the enemy, leaving no doubt about the will and power of the United States. As it has for more than 251 years, our Army will stand ready to fight, and win — whenever and wherever the Nation calls.

This We’ll Defend!

Christopher C. LaNeve
40th Vice Chief of Staff
General, United States Army

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Profession of Arms | No Comments »

KATUSA: 76 Years of “We Go Together”

Thursday, August 20th, 2026

August 15 is recognized as the birthday of the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army Soldier program, or KATUSA. The program was created only weeks after the Korean War ignited, and to this day KATUSAs continue to serve side-by-side with Eighth Army Soldiers providing priceless support and friendship.

The Korean War began June 25, 1950. Roughly three weeks later the KATUSA program was initiated July 15 by an informal agreement between the Honorable Syngman Rhee, president of the Republic of Korea, and General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, commander in chief, United Nations Command.

During the first two months of the war, the Republic of Korea Army had been destroyed as a fighting force and the U.S. Army was significantly understrength and had been “compressed” into the Pusan perimeter by North Korean forces, as described in an official Army report. Replacements and fighting men were in desperate need.

The concept of the KATUSA program was to augment the U.S. forces. In the beginning most KATUSAs were recruited directly off the streets of Pusan, now spelled Busan. After a basic training period, KATUSA Soldiers were sent to combat units serving as infantrymen. The first KATUSAs reached U.S. Army units by mid-August 1950.

They were issued U.S. supplies, but were paid by and remained administered under the Republic of Korea Army. Throughout the Korean War, up to a maximum of 23,000 KATUSAs served at any one time, according to the Army.

After the 1953 armistice, KATUSA Soldiers remained with U.S. Army units to receive training not readily available in the ROKA and to enhance U.S. Army in Korea’s mission capability.

Since 1950, the KATUSA Soldier Program has been ongoing with only periodic strength adjustments dictated by requirements. Originally, KATUSA Soldiers were returned to the ROKA after serving with the U.S. Army. Since 1968, however, KATUSA Soldiers remain with Eighth Army until their service commitments are completed. The ROKA Support Group was established May 11, 1965 at the request of the Eighth Army commander to administer the KATUSA Soldier program.

Today, young South Korean men planning to conduct their mandatory military service obligation can apply to become a KATUSA if they have a command of the English language and if positions are available.

Eighth Army has stated the KATUSA program increases the ROK-U.S. combined defense capability on the Korean peninsula. The program is also significant not only because of the military manpower and monetary savings that it provides to the U.S. Army, but also because it puts a face on the ROK-U.S. alliance and the combined commitment to deter war.

The KATUSA program is the very essence of one of Eighth Army’s favorite phrases, “katchi kapshida,” — “we go together.”

Information for this article provided by Eighth Army and these sources:

“Integration of ROK Soldiers into US Army Units (KATUSA)” (U.S. Army)

“The KATUSA Experiment” by David Curtis Skaggs (excerpt)

By Kenji Thuloweit

Posted in Admin, Army, Cold War, Guest Post, History, International | Comments Off on KATUSA: 76 Years of “We Go Together”

BLADE’s Hunter WOLF Robotic UGV Scheduled for Evaluation with the 82nd Airborne Division (TiC)

Tuesday, August 18th, 2026

Third Army training event demonstrates Hunter WOLF adaptability and utility across diverse mission requirementsFREDERICKSBURG, Va., Aug. 17, 2026 — The U.S. Army is expanding the evaluation of the Hunter WOLF unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) from HDT Robotics, LLC dba BLADE, through a Transition in Contact (TiC) event with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The training and evaluation is taking place August 20, 2026.

The Hunter WOLF from BLADE (formerly HDT) continues to prove its maturity with TiC event with the 82nd Airborne.

The Hunter WOLF is a robotic multi-mission ground vehicle designed to reduce the physical burden on soldiers. With a payload capacity of up to 2,800 lbs, it supports logistics and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) missions while helping to solve the military’s “last tactical mile” of supply challenge. By carrying critical equipment, supplies, and personnel, it extends operational duration, keeps soldiers in the field longer, reduces fatigue, and allows them to operate at safer distances. Built specifically for dismounted military operations, it delivers mobility, payload, and power in a compact system engineered to perform in demanding environments where commercial vehicles fail.

The training event will provide hands-on experience for soldiers from one of the Army’s premier rapid-response units. Known as the “All-American” Division, the 82nd Airborne can deploy worldwide within 18 hours and specializes in parachute assault and other key military operations.

“No two Army units operate the same way,” said Tom Van Doren, President of Robotics, BLADE. “The value of these evaluations is seeing how the Hunter WOLF supports different mission sets, environments, and operational priorities. Every event helps validate the flexibility of the platform and identify new ways it can reduce workload and help keep soldiers out of harm’s way.”

During the training, soldiers will operate and evaluate the Hunter WOLF in real-world scenarios, gaining experience in system operation and mission integration. The vehicles will be configured to support a variety of mission requirements, including communications, logistics, casualty evacuation, mobile power generation, and equipment transport.

Specifically, configurations include:

Two Vehicle-mounted Tactical Radios (AN/VRC-158)
Autonomy
Five Universal Battery Chargers (UBC)
Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC)
15kW Mobile Power Export (120/240VAC inverter offload)
Extended Cargo Rails for Equipment Transport

“The 82nd Airborne brings a unique operational perspective centered on agility, mobility, and rapid deployment,” said John Conway, VP of Business Development, Robotics, BLADE. “Training units like this help demonstrate how the Hunter WOLF can integrate into light / mobile infantry operations while delivering the support soldiers need to stay focused on the warfighting mission.”

This event follows previous Hunter WOLF training and evaluation activities conducted with U.S. Army units earlier this year, including the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, and the 101st Airborne Division. Collectively, these engagements are providing valuable soldier feedback while demonstrating the platform’s adaptability across multiple mission requirements and operational environments.

www.hdtglobal.com

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

US Army Combined Arms Command Advances AI-Powered Knowledge Platform, VICTOR

Sunday, August 16th, 2026

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — The U.S. Army is creating VICTOR, a new artificial intelligence-powered network engagement platform designed to transform how soldiers and Army career professionals discover, share and apply operational knowledge. Managed by the leaders within the U.S. Army Combined Arms Command, the effort represents the next step in connecting the Army’s institutional knowledge with the needs of Soldiers across the force.

This new tool aims to solve a long-standing problem: critical lessons and insights are often locked away in disconnected data silos, which impedes and discourages Soldiers from finding them. Whether preparing for a training event, planning an operation or responding to an emerging threat, Soldiers and leaders often spend valuable time searching across multiple systems for information. VICTOR is focused on reducing that burden by bringing trusted Army knowledge together into one interface.

Combat leaders must make confident decisions under extreme pressure; they deserve access to the Army’s collective knowledge at the point of need. VICTOR is being designed as a mobile-first capability that connects authoritative Army knowledge and lessons learned to deliver relevant, actionable information when it matters most.

“We’re getting away from Soldiers having to comb through a haystack of links to websites and documents that may or may not even have the answers they need,” said Lt. Col. Jonathan Nielsen, the VICTOR lead at the Combined Arms Command.

“The point of this effort is to combine AI capabilities with the massive canon of knowledge we have in our doctrine library and in the experience of our Soldiers. VICTOR aims to bring all of that together on a secure, easy-to-access platform that Soldiers can use to get instant answers to their questions and only the most relevant resources brought directly to them.”

Rather than replacing existing systems, VICTOR is designed to connect them, enabling users to receive synthesized answers instead of searching across multiple repositories.

The application launched this month to an initial group of innovators consisting of Soldiers and Army civilian professionals. This cohort is testing the system and providing critical insights to shape future capabilities. Based on this feedback, the VICTOR team is targeting a launch to the force this fall accompanied by multiple user upgrades, ensuring that the platform is fully tuned to warfighter needs.

This initiative is designed to improve readiness by helping leaders and Soldiers make faster, more informed decisions. For a squad leader in the motor pool or a company commander in the field, it means getting instant answers when they are needed most. It allows units to benefit from lessons learned across the force rather than relying on trial and error.

“Most of us grew up in the Army where the Center for Army Lessons Learned and the Army Publishing Directorate were the go-to platforms for the latest established and emerging doctrine,” Nielsen said.

“That entire ecosystem was built on the institutional Army and everyday Soldiers sharing their hard-earned tactics, techniques and procedures to help each other fight and win. Over the years, we went from carrying that info in physical books, to scrolling through digital PDFs, and eventually listening to audiobooks on the move. VICTOR is the next-generation step in that evolution. It’s transforming those decades of shared knowledge into an AI-driven, personalized mission partner that puts instant, customized answers at the point of need.”

By connecting lessons learned across the force, VICTOR is designed to accelerate how the Army learns and adapts. In a multi-domain environment, that ability to turn knowledge into timely decisions will provide a decisive information advantage. Combat leaders must make split-second, critical decisions under extreme pressure. VICTOR will help shape how the Army learns, shares knowledge, and prepares for tomorrow’s fight.

By U.S. Army Combined Arms Command

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

PELE STRIKE 2026 Strengthens Army Military Intelligence Readiness in Hawaii

Saturday, August 15th, 2026

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii — The Western Army Reserve Intelligence Support Center wrapped up PELE STRIKE 2026, its premier annual intelligence discipline certification event, after two weeks of joint training designed to test, validate, and strengthen critical military intelligence capabilities at Area X-Ray on Schofield Barracks.

The exercise centered on certifying Soldiers from the 368th Military Intelligence Battalion while sharpening the unit’s ability to operate in a complex, multi-discipline environment alongside joint and multi-component partners.

“This exercise provided a wonderful opportunity for our Soldiers to experience the coordination and technical repetitions they needed in order to be successful on the battlefield,” one participant said. “In intelligence, we often train individually, but when we actually go out, you’re never on an individual effort.”

The 368th Military Intelligence Battalion’s counterintelligence and human intelligence teams were evaluated against their mission-essential task list, while all-source analysts worked alongside tactical collection teams to support HUMINT and CI operations and transform raw field data into Intelligence Information Reports for the broader intelligence community.

A Soldier assigned to the analytical cell said the training improved synchronization across the formation. “We were able to get wrapped in learning how to communicate and coordinate with one another,” the Soldier said. “That was the closest to friction that we got, but we were able to overcome that pretty quickly just because of good communication on both sides.”

PELE STRIKE 2026 also served as a joint and multi-component HUMINT, CI and protection exercise that included participants from the Army’s active-duty and Reserve components, active-duty Marines from 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, Navy observers, and key units including the 368th Military Intelligence Battalion, 301st Military Intelligence Battalion, 500th Military Intelligence Brigade – Theater and the 25th Infantry Division, totaling 226 personnel.

The exercise expanded beyond certification by serving as a live language-training venue where Soldiers exercised critical perishable skills in Mandarin, Russian, Korean, French, Spanish and Arabic. A HUMINT collector said the event offered valuable experience by combining language skills, interrogation techniques and realistic scenario-based training. “It’s a close representation of what you could expect from the stories that are shared,” the collector said. “The more reps you can get doing it that way, the better.”

The Exercise Director, and Commander of the Western Army Reserve Intelligence Support Center, Lt. Col. Randy Downs encapsulates to distinguished visitors observing the event: “PELE STRIKE builds the grit and readiness our Soldiers need to fight and win. This exercise directly advances Department of Army G-2 priorities and tests emerging technology and AI integration, deepens Pacific partner relationships, language and tradecraft capabilities, and sharpens joint, multi-COMPO, and multi-intelligence proficiencies across the force”.

PELE STRIKE also reinforced readiness through technology integration, serving as a testing site for Headquarters, Department of the Army G-2 emerging capabilities, including the digital interrogation video archiving system. A representative from HQDA G-2 provided overviews on DIVAS, CHS, TactiLink and other emerging artificial intelligence-enabled solutions designed to improve transcription and translation support across the force.

In addition, 140 Soldiers trained on small, unmanned aircraft systems, gaining situational understanding and readiness in the employment of sUAS for intelligence, protection and defensive countermeasure functions. The training included both simulation and live flying, further expanding the exercise’s contribution to operational adaptability and mission readiness.

PELE STRIKE challenged units to operate under realistic pressure by incorporating the protection warfighting function into Joint Intelligence Debriefing Center operations, reinforcing force protection and operational security in a joint environment.

Certification success depended on a total-force effort. One Soldier said the exercise helped participants understand how each discipline contributed to the larger mission. “Here at PELE STRIKE, you had the opportunity to take your skill, execute it, but then also see the second- and third-order effects of your performance,” the Soldier said. “You don’t get to see that back home in your unit.”

Together, the participating units created a realistic, multi-domain training environment in Hawaii that tested and improved the 368th’s intelligence capabilities, maintained operational certification and strengthened the unit’s ability to provide timely, mission-critical intelligence in support of future operations.

By LTC Michael Garcia

Posted in Army, Forces Focus, Guest Post, ISR | No Comments »

US Army Announces Vendors for Infantry Last Tactical Mile Operations

Friday, August 14th, 2026

DETROIT ARSENAL, Mich. – Today, the U.S. Army announced the selection of six vendors for the Infantry Last Tactical Mile (ILTM) initiative, a key effort within our mission autonomy portfolio to modernize infantry support for Soldiers on the battlefield.

“This project will deliver production-ready prototype autonomous systems supporting manned close combat formations through rapidly deployable logistical resupply platforms capable of performing casualty evacuation operations and network extension to the forward line of own troops,” said Col. Ken Bernier, the Army’s project manager for Autonomous Robotic Capabilities.

The selected vendors will provide advanced robotic systems designed for beyond-line-of-sight autonomous control, directly enhancing the Army’s ability to conduct multi-domain operations.

The six identified companies – Maren-Go (Vancouver, Wash.), Overland AI (Seattle), Forterra (Clarksburg, Md.), Hendrick’s Motorsports (Concord, N.C.), American Rheinmetall (Auburn Hills, Mich.), and HDT (Solon, Ohio) – were chosen for their innovative approaches to logistical resupply to the forward line of own troops (FLOT). Their proposed technologies range from proven autonomous commercial equipment to novel purpose-built robotic platforms designed to meet the logistical needs of the infantry.

Formal contract awards for the ILTM initiative are expected to be finalized in the coming weeks. Once awarded, the project will advance into a series of demonstrations and assessments, culminating in an Operational Assessment with an Army unit in early 2027. This rotation will allow the Army to collect direct, unit-level feedback to inform the production decision for the next generation of autonomous infantry systems.

By Ashley John

Posted in Army, Contracts, Guest Post, Robotics | No Comments »