The United States Army is intensifying its pursuit of autonomous technology for the modern battlefield, awarding contracts totaling $15.5 million to three commercial startups. The initiative aims to rapidly integrate self-driving systems into Infantry Squad Vehicles (ISVs), marking a significant push to accelerate the development of robotic capabilities for combat scenarios.
A New Approach to Autonomy
The contracts have been awarded to Overland AI, Forterra, and Scout AI, who are now tasked with developing and delivering prototype autonomous systems. According to an Army statement, the goal is to “rapidly integrate and deliver commercial autonomous mobility into Army formations.” This effort, part of the “Unmanned Systems (UxS) Autonomy” program, has set an ambitious timeline, with the companies expected to present their prototypes for soldier demonstration and evaluation by May 2026.
Colonel Ken Bernier, project manager for Future Battle Platforms, expressed optimism about the collaboration. “We are looking forward to seeing how our industry partner’s autonomy solutions perform on vehicles while performing relevant military missions,” he stated. “We remain committed to bringing the best technologies to our warfighters and shaping the future of autonomous mobility for our Army at an unprecedented speed.”
Navigating Off-Road Challenges
Last year, Major General Glenn Dean, then in charge of Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems, noted the disparity between public perception and the reality of off-road autonomy. “The good news is we are moving forward in that area. The bad news is the industry is nowhere near where people think in terms of off-road autonomy.” Initial evaluations, he explained, were conducted on trails and unimproved roads, not truly off-road environments. “Building an autonomy algorithm that can identify the entire range of things it might encounter is challenging because you have a pretty big data set.”
This new initiative represents a strategic pivot for the Army. After canceling previous plans for robotic combat vehicles, the service is now focusing on developing versatile autonomous capabilities that can be integrated into various platforms. The choice of the GM Defense-built ISV aligns with the Army’s plan to increase its fleet of these more flexible and mobile vehicles, moving away from traditional Humvees and Joint Light Tactical Vehicles.
Leveraging Commercial Innovation
This effort reflects a broader Pentagon strategy to harness the innovation of commercial startups to solve complex military problems. Much of the foundational work stems from internal Defense Department programs. For instance, Overland AI is building upon its experience with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) RACER program, which focused on high-speed, off-road autonomy in environments where GPS and communications are unreliable.
Stephanie Bonk, co-founder and president of Overland AI, highlighted the program’s significance. “There was really the time before the DARPA RACER program and then the time after,” she said. “Prior to that, there really was no focus on navigating through unstructured terrain,” Bonk emphasized that the current program is not just a technological demonstration but is aimed at delivering a tangible operational capability directly into the hands of soldiers. “A major focus of this program is integrating with soldiers, and I think that’s something we’re incredibly excited about.”
