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The Invisible Front: How PSYOP is Redefining Modern Conflict

Thursday, May 7th, 2026

FORT POLK, La.—At the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), Soldiers from the 7th Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Battalion are focused on a critical aspect of modern conflict: psychological warfare. As they integrate with the 82nd Airborne Division for a demanding training rotation, they are not only honing traditional skills but are also testing the very future of their craft. Armed with experimental AI systems, tactical drones, and modern versions of classic deception tools, these Soldiers are on the front lines of defining information dominance for the next conflict.

For PSYOP units, JRTC is the ultimate proving ground. “Coming out to a CTC (Combat Training Center) gives PSYOP a chance to actually integrate with Civil Affairs, Special Forces, Ranger Regiment, and the conventional forces as well,” explained a seasoned PSYOP Observer Controller Trainer (OCT) at JRTC. He emphasized that this is not a siloed exercise, but a complex simulation of large-scale operations where PSYOP must seamlessly weave its capabilities into the broader fight.

This integration is designed to be comprehensive, with PSYOP elements supporting commanders at every level of conflict. PSYOP personnel are typically embedded at the division and brigade levels, and others work directly with other Special Operations Forces, 7th PSYOP Battalion’s Tactical PSYOP Team (TPT), focused on the battalion level. The detachment commander explained that his team’s mission placed them directly with the infantry and artillery battalions of the 82nd. This forward positioning allowed them to provide commanders on the ground with immediate access to non-kinetic options to shape the fight.

Forging the Future: A Closer Look at PSYOP’s New Toolkit

A central part of the mission at JRTC is putting new experimental equipment and procedures through its paces in a realistic combat environment. This rotation featured several key pieces of technology that demonstrated significant promise for the future of psychological operations, from AI-driven content creation to advanced battlefield deception.

Ghost in the Machine: An AI-Powered Media Generator

One of the most forward-looking systems being tested is the “Ghost Machine”, a ruggedized, field-deployable AI platform. Its purpose is to give Soldiers the ability to create and disseminate messages and media on the spot, dramatically reducing the time between commander’s intent and a product’s creation.

A combat camera specialist who tested the system, highlighted its audio generation feature as particularly impressive. Soldiers can input a script, and the AI can translate it and generate an audio file of a native sounding speaker reading the message in a variety of languages. This allows a team to, for example, create a targeted loudspeaker message for a specific local population or enemy unit in their own dialect within minutes, a task that would have previously required specialized linguist support and recording equipment. The system is also capable of generating simple images, providing a rapid response capability for creating basic visual aids in the field.

Drones on the Battlefield: The Sky-Raider and the “Night Haunter”

Proving to be one of the most immediately impactful tools were the tactical drones. The team utilized the Sky-Raider, a powerful quadcopter notable for its significant payload capacity. This lifting strength allows it to be a versatile delivery platform for a wide range of PSYOP products.

PSYOP Soldiers from across the regiment have demonstrated their field ingenuity by designing and 3-D printing their own custom delivery mechanisms. One of the most effective pairings was using the Sky-Raider to deploy “Night Haunters.” These are small, powerful speakers housed inside a cone to better project sounds, which can be dropped into strategic locations to broadcast messages, sounds, or recordings of military equipment like tanks or munitions.

A PSYOP Soldier described the drone’s varied applications, which went far beyond simple leaflet drops. In one scenario, the team used a drone broadcasting specific sounds to subtly influence an enemy patrol’s route, channeling them directly into a pre-planned ambush by friendly infantry. In another, they used it to divert enemy armored vehicles by flying over a road and broadcasting the sounds of mining activity, deceiving the enemy into believing the route was impassable.

Tactical Deception: The “Magpie” and Dummy Artillery

PSYOP teams are also modernizing classic deception tactics with new technology. By combining visual decoys with electronic warfare, they can create convincing illusions to mislead the enemy. During the rotation, the team deployed inflatable, dummy M777 howitzer barrels to create the visual signature of an artillery position.

To make the deception truly believable, they paired the visual dummies with the Magpie emitter. This device is an electronic warfare tool designed to replicate the specific radio frequency (RF) signature of a real M777 howitzer’s command and control network. When the Magpie is active, and enemy conducting signals intelligence (SIGINT) will detect what appears to be a fully operational artillery firing positions.

The goal, as a detachment commander explained, is to “bait the enemy into firing on the dummy position.” This multi-layered deception pressures an enemy commander to waste high-value, precision-guided munitions on a fake target. More importantly, the moment the enemy fires, their position is exposed to friendly counter-battery radar and fire, allowing US forces to destroy the real enemy asset. It’s a sophisticated trap that turns the enemy’s own intelligence-gathering against them.

Forging a Vision for the Future

The experience at JRTC is about more than just testing new equipment, it’s about shaping the future role of PSYOP. The military as whole sees a clear need for PSYOP’s unique skills in shaping the information environment, from the brigade’s rear area all the way to the front lines and beyond.

The vision for PSYOP is ambitious. The company’s operations officer described a role where his teams could so thoroughly control the flow of information that the enemy is paralyzed. In this vision of psychological warfare, PSYOP’s job is to flood the enemy’s intelligence apparatus with so much conflicting data that they “can’t decipher what is true and what is not.”

“As far as I’m concerned,” the operations officer concluded, “what PSYOP does for that division commander is we tell the enemy what is true and what isn’t. So that way, we have all the advantages.”

By CPT Rachel Deppen

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

Hybrid Anti Materiel Round (HAMR): Delivering Decisive Advantage Through Unconventional Innovation

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026

As the Army enhances Soldier lethality, Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition’s (JPEO A&A) Product Manager (PdM) Small Caliber Ammunition is developing the XM1224 Hybrid-Anti Materiel Round (HAMR) precision cartridge for the MK22 Precision Sniper Rifle.

No matter the operational environment, snipers continue to maintain relevancy and technologies to sense and see farther demand persistent investment in precision sniper ammunition. Traditionally, this has meant equipping snipers with multiple weapon systems and ammunition types, which increased load. The XM1224 HAMR will deliver improved accuracy and performance when compared to the existing M1162 round and addresses the anticipated capability gap when the Army divests of the legacy M107 weapon system.

The XM1224 program streamlines ammunition choices, reduces combat load and is an evolutionary increase in precision ammunition that will outpace the threat.

TRANSFORMING IN CONTACT REQUIRES AGILE THINKING

Driven by a commitment to providing warfighters with the best tools to win decisively, PdM Small Caliber Ammunition adopted a fast, unconventional approach to rapidly deliver capability by combining the capability of government scientists and engineers with the speed and efficiency of commercial partners—developing the lethal projectile and high-pressure cartridge case in parallel with continuous integration touch points. This is accomplished in partnership with contracting professionals who leveraged acquisition authorities, which enabled speed and agility.

The XM1224 logo developed by the team at DEVCOM-AC. (Photo courtesy of JPEO A&A)

FILLING THE VOID

The XM1224 HAMR program is a significant advancement in precision ammunition. No commercially available .338 caliber projectile could provide the terminal performance needed to replace the legacy anti-materiel M107 sniper rifle with its larger and heavier .50 caliber ammunition.

Recognizing the importance of precision for sniper systems, The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center (DEVCOM AC) prioritized ballistics during the initial design phase. A comprehensive modeling and prototyping effort evaluated numerous projectile shapes to identify the most aerodynamically efficient solution. Prototypes underwent rigorous testing, utilizing advanced radar to precisely measure aerodynamic performance. This data-driven approach ensured the solution was optimized for both precision and the incorporation of advanced anti-materiel technologies.

To deliver the required terminal performance across a wide range of targets at extended ranges, PdM Small Caliber partnered with DEVCOM AC to leverage Picatinny Arsenal’s fully integrated, in-house design and fabrication capabilities. The infrastructure and cutting-edge equipment enabled rapid build-test-build cycles to rapidly meet requirements. The XM1224 HAMR projectile stands as a testament of the synergies between JPEO A&A and DEVCOM AC at the Army’s Center of Excellence for Guns and Ammunition.

A MISS IS A MESSAGE

The XM1224 HAMR fundamentally redefines long-range precision. PdM Small Caliber and DEVCOM AC have moved beyond incremental improvements, signaling a fundamental shift in the program. The XM1224 delivers a 20% increase in accuracy over currently fielded precision ammunition, but the real breakthrough comes with a stunning 75% increase in accuracy compared to the legacy .50 caliber precision ammunition for the M107. The new HAMR round provides warfighters with an overmatching capability against emerging threats, ensuring they maintain a critical edge and operational superiority in any environment; this technology is designed to dominate the battlefield.

ACCELERATING INNOVATION: DEPARTMENT OF WAR AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP

The team partnered with industry through a Department of Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium, Other Transaction Authority, contract for maturation and further refinement of key cartridge component technologies with a focus on cost-reduction and producibility. Leveraging the innovative capabilities and expertise of private sector partners, we are not only accelerating the development of advanced technologies but also ensuring that these solutions are economically viable and scalable for military applications. This partnership exemplifies the Department of War’s commitment to engaging with industry leaders in pursuit of modernization and enhanced operational readiness. This strategic alignment profoundly enhances our military’s operational effectiveness, ensuring we are fully prepared to address any challenges that may emerge on the battlefield.

The XM1224 cartridge. (Photo courtesy of JPEO A&A)

ARSENAL TO INDUSTRY: SCALING FOR SUCCESS

As the program proceeds through the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase, the PdM Small Caliber and DEVCOM AC team at Picatinny Arsenal will leverage in-house capabilities to produce and complete acceptance testing. Following Milestone C, full-rate production will be competed. This transition is expected to ensure a seamless handover of production and the preservation of critical expertise, ultimately maintaining a continuously ready force equipped to pace evolving threats.

CONCLUSION

The XM1224 HAMR program illustrates how blending government innovation with commercial execution, planning a phased transition and emphasizing continuous knowledge sharing, we can deliver capabilities to the field faster and more effectively model with significant implications for the future of defense acquisition and modernizing the Army to be the most lethal force against the evolving threat. The XM1224 HAMR isn’t just about getting ammunition into the field, it’s about equipping Soldiers with the capability they need to fight and win decisively.

For more information, go to the PdM Small Caliber Ammunition webpage at jpeoaa.army.mil/Project-Offices/PM-MAS/Teams/PdM-Small-Caliber.

MAJ. CALVIN W. TAYLOR III, an armor and signal officer, serves as the assistant product manager for Small Caliber Ammunition within Project Manager Maneuver Ammunition Systems and is the project lead for the XM1224 HAMR. He holds an M.S.in systems engineering from the Naval Post Graduate School and a B.B.A. in business management from Austin Peay State University. He has been in the acquisition workforce for three years and is Certified Contracting Professional.

TYLER ROTUNNO, Ph.D., serves as the armaments project officer and lead engineer for the Precision Family of Ammunition, including the XM1224 HAMR program, at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey. He holds a Ph.D. and an M.S., both in armament engineering, from the U.S. Army’s Armament Graduate School and a B.S. in biomedical engineering with a specialization in biomechanics from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He brings 10 years of engineering experience to the Department of War, including six years focused on sniper weapon systems and four years on precision ammunition development.

Posted in Ammo, Army, Guest Post | 5 Comments »

Eerie Company: A New Threat at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026

HOHENFELS, Germany — Soldiers assigned to the newly established Eerie Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, used first-person-view drone systems to enhance reconnaissance capabilities during Joint Multinational Readiness Center exercises in Hohenfels, Germany.

Acting as the opposing force during the exercise, the company replicated a modern battlefield threat by combining emerging drone technology and electronic warfare with traditional infantry tactics, creating a realistic training environment for rotational units.

Established in December, Eerie Company specializes in short-, mid- and long-range reconnaissance to provide timely, accurate battlefield intelligence. The unit was created to address the evolving demands of modern warfare and to increase situational awareness across the battalion.

“The rate at which modern warfare is moving, and due to current conflicts, this company was established to help bridge that gap and be the eyes and ears of the battalion,” said Army Capt. Luther Salmon, company commander.

One of the primary systems the company employs is the Archer, a first-person-view drone used to replicate emerging aerial threats observed in ongoing global conflicts, including the war in Ukraine.

Army Spc. Ryan Hatcher, an infantryman and subject matter expert on the system, emphasized its effectiveness during training.

“It’s pretty good for an FPV,” Hatcher said. “Other FPVs we’ve flown here in Hohenfels, Germany, we’ve only been able to max out at eight to 10 minutes of battery life.”

Hatcher added that operating first-person-view drone systems is not limited to a specific military occupational specialty, which allows Soldiers from across the formation to qualify as drone pilots and contribute to reconnaissance efforts.

He said the Archer can be configured for multiple roles, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. In some scenarios, similar systems may be equipped with munitions, allowing Soldiers to train on identifying the differences between armed and unarmed drones.

Due to its limited range, the system is primarily employed in defensive operations, providing units with a close-range aerial perspective of the battlefield and enhancing their ability to detect and respond to threats.

Through the use of drone technology and specialized reconnaissance elements, Eerie Company continues to adapt to the rapidly changing operational environment, ensuring the battalion remains prepared for modern combat scenarios.

By SSG Troy Wharton

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

Mystery Ranch Special Projects Service

Tuesday, May 5th, 2026

Purpose-built systems for specific requirements.MYSTERY RANCH Special Projects Service exists to solve problems where off-the-shelf solutions are insufficient. The team at MYSTERY RANCH designs and manufactures custom load carriage systems for companies and teams with unique operational requirements.

Working collaboratively with the client, each system is shaped by real-world requirements, from drone transport and modular medical systems to communications, sensors, robotics, and other complex payloads. From concept through field testing, every solution is designed and delivered with the innovation and quality MYSTERY RANCH is known for. The result is purpose-built equipment engineered to solve specific operational challenges integrating protection, accessibility, and human performance from the start.

If it needs to be carried by a person, they can create a solution.

For more information on how MSYTERY RANCH can provide a load carriage solution for you, contact sales@mysteryranch.com.

Stop by the MYSTERY RANCH booth, SOF Select at SOF Week, Tuesday May 19 – Wednesday May 20 at the HILTON TAMPA DOWNTOWN, 211 North Tampa Street, Tampa, FL.

Case Study: MYSTERY RANCH × PDW

C100 Multi-Mission Pack | Custom Load Carriage Solution

The C100 is a man-packable, multi-mission unmanned aircraft system that gives warfighters airborne ISR, targeting, and precision-effects capability from a single rucksack.

MYSTERY RANCH developed a purpose-built rucksack for PDW’s C100 sUAS, enabling a single operator to transport the complete system on foot. The pack supports movement through austere terrain and confined environments, including enclosed structures and stairwells, while maintaining balance, protection, and rapid access.

Custom design. Collaborative development. Built to move when the mission demands it.

Posted in Advertiser, Drone, Guest Post, SOF Select | No Comments »

FlyTrap 5.0 Puts Emerging Tech in Warfighters’ Hands

Tuesday, May 5th, 2026

PABRAD? TRAINING AREA, Lithuania – U.S. infantry Soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and paratroopers from the U.K. Parachute Regiment prepare for the force-on-force phase of Project FlyTrap 5.0 at Pabrad? Training Area, Lithuania, May 2. FlyTrap 5.0 integrates autonomous and unmanned ground vehicles, first-person view drones and counter-unmanned aerial systems on the simulated battlefield.

The day marked the third consecutive day of preparation and system integration for the exercise, which included an exercise briefing attended by U.S. Soldiers and U.K. paratroopers participating in the force-on-force portion of FlyTrap 5.0. Soldiers spent the remainder of the day conducting drone familiarization, operating unmanned ground vehicles and rehearsing C-UAS procedures in preparation for the upcoming engagement.

Among those preparing was Spc. Arthur Tugman, an infantryman assigned to 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, who has taken on the role of unmanned ground vehicle operator for the exercise, a mission set outside his traditional infantry duties.

“My role in FlyTrap 5.0 is to serve as an unmanned ground vehicle operator, where I operate various unmanned ground vehicle platforms to transport equipment, Soldiers, unmanned aerial systems and counter-unmanned aerial systems to wherever they are needed,” Tugman said.

The integration of infantry Soldiers into UGV operations reflects a broader theme running through FlyTrap 5.0; placing emerging technology directly in the hands of warfighters regardless of their primary specialty, and using their feedback to drive rapid improvements across the force. FlyTrap 5.0 hopes to organically assimilate these new duties to Soldiers already assigned to units.

Tugman said the speed at which his unit has been able to absorb and operate the new systems has been one of the more surprising aspects of the exercise.

“Something I learned that I didn’t expect was how fast the United States Army is able to integrate new systems into warfighting tactics,” he said. “I’d say this equipment is very easy to use. I’m able to pick it up, turn it on, and send it wherever it needs to go, as far as it needs to go, as fast as it needs to go.”

That ease of use, Tugman said, has direct implications for how the soldiers could employ these systems at scale across the force.

“If all our technology works the way it’s supposed to, we will preserve manpower as well as accomplish the mission faster and more effectively,” he said.

For Tugman, the measure of success extends beyond the exercise itself. He described his goal as helping establish repeatable, standardized procedures for integrating C-UAS and UGV capabilities into 2nd Cavalry Regiment’s formations; procedures he hopes will eventually be adopted Army-wide.

U.S. and Allied forces conduct Project Fly Trap 5.0 as part of a series of linked exercises, including Sword, Saber Strike, Immediate Response, and Swift Response, which transform experimentation into capability. During Flytrap, Soldiers integrate counter-unmanned systems, AI-enabled command and control, and live data networks to move faster, decide faster, and fight more effectively across all domains.

Story by SGT Max Elliott

196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Posted in Army, Drone, Guest Post, Robotics, Unmanned Systems, UxS | No Comments »

BFG Monday: Have VELCRO MOLLE Fasteners Survived Combat Use?

Monday, May 4th, 2026

Military personnel have all seen the same thing with traditional MOLLE snaps, they fail when you need them most.

Steel snaps rust shut, seize up, or shear off entirely. And once they fail, there’s no fixing them in the field. Moisture, sweat, humidity, and time all work against metal hardware, turning a simple closure into a liability.

Studies on the corrosive nature of steel especially in high-moisture environments reinforce what warfighters already know: these closures are a known failure point and are not suited for sustained combat use.

Helium Whisper was engineered to eliminate that problem.

In place of metal snaps, Blue Force Gear (“BFG”) developed a hook-and-loop VELCRO® tuck tab system that is quieter, more secure, and immune to the failures that plague traditional hardware.

The industry’s leading IFAK Kit / Trauma Kit showing the advanced Helium Whisper MOLLE pouch attachment system.

The tabs tuck cleanly underneath the pouch backer, creating a low-profile attachment with no exposed hardware to snag, corrode, or break.

Field repairability was also a deliberate feature. While it’s unlikely a hook-and-loop tab would come unstitched, if it does, it can be repaired without tools. A failed metal snap offers no such option downrange.

After nearly twenty years of combat and field use, Helium Whisper has proven what every warfighter understands: gear that doesn’t absorb water, doesn’t corrode, and doesn’t fail keeps you faster, safer, and more effective.

As the focus on weight reduction continues, the Helium Whisper system stands as a lightweight solution that delivers both durability and reliability for those who rely on it most.

To learn more about how your unit can increase lethality and survivability and drastically reduce load carriage weight by upgrading to Helium Whisper, contact the Blue Force Gear Military Department or visit BlueForceGear.com.

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, Materials | No Comments »

Balikatan 2026: 5th Battalion, 3rd Artillery Regiment, 7th Infantry Division Conducts HIRAIN Live-Fire Iteration

Monday, May 4th, 2026

PALAWAN, Philippines– Soldiers from the 5th Battalion, 3rd Artillery Regiment, 7th Infantry Division (Multi-Domain Command-Pacific) conducted a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System live-fire iteration on April 27, 2026, in Palawan, Philippines. Conducted in coordination with U.S. Marines, Philippine marines and Australian soldiers, this event was part of a counter landing live fire exercise designed to repel a simulated enemy landing force across multipleranges, from deep-water approaches to shallow littorals, in defense of the island. The HIMARS maneuvered onto the beach from a concealed position and launched four Reduced Range Practice Rockets, effectively demonstrating the system’s mobility and precision. Thepractice and preparation by Alpha battery soldiers resulted in an exceptionally fluid and rapidly executed fire mission.

“Today what we demonstrated was the absolute power that the land component brings to the fightin the pacific.” Said Lt. Col. Alexander Mullin, commander of the 5th Battalion, 3rd ArtilleryRegiment. ”Huge gains were made with the interoperability between the nations’ forces, communication and coordination of multiple fires were on full display during the exercise.” Mullin stated, “through being here we are demonstrating the cross-domain contact layer concept, which is our ability to provide a covering force in the pacific and achieve decisive effects.” The Cross-Domain Contact Layer is not merely a system or standalone capability; rather, it serves as a framework for synchronizing legacy, exquisite and emerging capabilities. It integrates sensing,effects, and artificial intelligence-enabled command and control into a persistent, all-domain architecture that maintains continuous contact from the operational deep area to the close fight.

Positioning HIMARS for these exercises is a formidable logistical undertaking. Meticulous attention is required to adhere to host nation regulations during road movements, necessitatingacute situational awareness of local infrastructure, including small bridges and low-hanging power lines. Upon departing paved routes, the HIMARS navigates unforgiving jungle environments, mountainous terrain, and sandy littoral zones. Throughout this process, all logistics are closely coordinated in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“All the live fires that we have done could not have been done without the support of the Philippine marines and the Philippine Army as we make our movements across the country,” said 1st Sgt. Shawn Washburn, Alpha Battery, 5th Battalion, 3rd Artillery Regiment, 7th Infantry Division.

The environment challenges soldiers to operate beyond their comfort zones of typical home station training, acclimating them to the rigorous conditions they may encounter in future conflicts. Furthermore, the tropical climate provides invaluable opportunities for personnel to adapt and endure weather challenges while sustaining operations in an austere environment and maintaining physical readiness.

Story by SSG Brandon Rickert

7th Infantry Division

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

Elite Army Engineers Leverage ENFIRE at Best Sapper Competition

Sunday, May 3rd, 2026

The annual Best Sapper Competition gathers the U.S. Army’s elite engineers to compete in tests of skill, endurance, and creativity in leveraging advanced technologies.

That’s why the Army’s ENFIRE reconnaissance system played a role in this year’s competition held at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., from April 20 to 23.

Cory Baron, who manages Product Director Combat Terrain Information Systems (PD CTIS) which fields ENFIRE, explained why the system was included in the competition for the third year in a row.

“Being invited to participate in the Best Sapper competition is an incredible honor,” said Baron. “To be asked to come back again and again is a testament to the work the team has done to advance these capabilities and continue to shape the future of the program.”

The Instrument Set, Reconnaissance and Surveying (Common name: ENFIRE) supports Soldiers by expediting deliberate route, area and zone reconnaissance, route clearance, hazard identification, inventory, and construction management efforts through the integration of digital tools into a single platform.

The Best Sapper Competition began in 2005 and is hosted by the U.S. Army Engineer School. Competition officials say Best Sapper not only proves the best engineering team but aims to “challenge and test the service members’ knowledge, physical prowess and mental fortitude.”

Ahead of the competition, PD CTIS engineers planned the ENFIRE lane, which recons would be conducted, and how to best utilize system software and hardware. The team then participates in a full dress rehearsal to ensure ENFIRE competition parameters are feasible and responds to questions from senior leadership. PD CTIS does not play a role in evaluating competitors but remains on site throughout the event for technical support if needed.

PD CTIS leverages events like the Best Sapper Competition to evaluate capabilities in a high paced and highly dynamic environment, putting ENFIRE through its paces in unprecedented ways.

“Supporting and observing in real-time, our systems being used to answer complex engineer challenges, is an incredible opportunity to receive critical feedback that help us in the program office shape future iterations of the tools to maximize utility of system,” Baron said.

ENFIRE demonstrated ease of use for the engineers with almost no training provided by PD CTIS staff. Competitors tested new ENFIRE and ENFIRE Dismounted functionality at a strenuous level, proving reliability in a high-pressure environment.

While the competition provided engineers an opportunity to prove their skills on ENFIRE it also provided PD CTIS an opportunity to improve the system, currently in its 12th iteration. During the competition the team identified minor software issues that will be addressed with planned fieldings in 2027 and 2028.

“The insights the team receive through facilitating and observing competitors is priceless,” Baron said. “Observing the system function in an extreme environment to support engineer mission tasks at speed is a critical factor in the evolution of the kit as we continuously modernize these capabilities.”

By M. Scott Bortot

Posted in Army, Guest Post | No Comments »