U.S. Army Aims to Turn Squad Vehicles into Drones

The U.S. Army has awarded three agreements valued at approximately $15.5 million to Forterra of Clarksburg, Maryland, Overland AI of Seattle, Washington, and Scout AI of Sunnyvale, California, as part of an effort to accelerate autonomous mobility within Army formations.

According to the Army, the Unmanned Systems (UxS) Autonomy agreements will integrate commercial autonomy solutions onto Infantry Support Vehicles (ISVs) already in service. The three companies will adapt their technologies and deliver prototype systems for soldier demonstration and evaluation in May 2026.

Col. Ken Bernier, project manager for Future Battle Platforms, said the initiative is designed to bring rapid innovation into Army operations.

“We are looking forward to seeing how our industry partner’s autonomy solutions perform on vehicles while performing relevant military missions,” Bernier 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.”

The Army said the upcoming demonstrations will help determine how commercial autonomy can be applied across the force. By using existing ISVs as test platforms, leaders hope to evaluate whether commercial technologies are durable and reliable enough for battlefield conditions.

“This effort will serve as an opportunity for the Army to assess the reliability of commercial autonomy and their ability to deliver real operational value to Soldiers in the field,” Bernier explained.

Officials noted that the results of the 2026 trials will inform broader Army decisions on the future role of autonomous and unmanned systems. Successful technologies could be adapted not only for Infantry Support Vehicles but also across other ground vehicle fleets, potentially expanding the role of autonomy in logistics, reconnaissance, and combat support.

The Army has increasingly emphasized modular and rapid integration of commercial technologies as part of its modernization agenda. By awarding agreements to companies with commercial autonomy expertise, the service aims to reduce development time and test new capabilities directly in operationally relevant settings.

Industry partners Forterra, Overland AI, and Scout AI are expected to deliver fully integrated prototypes by the scheduled demonstrations. Each system will undergo evaluation by soldiers, providing direct feedback on performance, ease of use, and tactical applicability.

For the Army, the project represents an experiment in accelerating technology adoption. Rather than developing autonomous systems solely through long-term internal programs, the service is drawing directly from commercial innovation and testing it in the field within a set timeline.