U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth hosts a drone demonstration at the Pentagon, July 10, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Isaac Llanez Delgado)
The proposed Robotic and Autonomous Systems Combatant Command would have special test and evaluation authorities, as well as limited acquisition authorities to streamline capability delivery.
U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 125th Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, prepare and launch an unmanned surface vessel, during Exercise Balikatan 2026, in La Paz Sand Dunes, Laoag City, Philippines, Apr. 29, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Omarion Hall)
An AH-64E Apache assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, prepares to land in a forward arming and refueling point in order to receive refuel before conducting operations for Operation Epic Fury in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 2, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo)
A U.S. Soldier acting as an opposing force, or OPFOR, demonstrates drone capabilities during Exercise Deep Strike at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, April 25, 2026. Deep Strike integrates cutting-edge technologies, such as advanced unmanned systems, to ensure SOF maintains an operations advantage in contested environments. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Nelson)
U.S. soldiers assigned to the 759th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, under the Joint Task Force-Southern Border, conduct dismounted patrol operations along the southern border in Wellton, Arizona, March 22, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. Erica Esterly)
Officials said the system adds to the burgeoning suite of counter-drone tools the Pentagon is deploying to the U.S.-Mexico border, a region senior military officers have dubbed…
Lt. Col. Lauren Cabral, commander of the 834th Transportation Battalion, Transcom commander Gen. Randall Reed, and representatives from their teams connected on port diversification and civil utilities initiatives at Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) in California, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Brandi Vincent)
Officials involved suggested that a notable portion of the effort focused on developing the tactics, techniques, and procedures for manned-unmanned teaming.
Marine Corps Col. Jeremie “Hank” Hester, director of the Marine Corps Capabilities Development Directorate’s Aviation Combat Element speaks during a panel at GDIT’s Emerge: Battlespace of the Future conference in Washington, D.C., June 2, 2026. (Photo by Isaac Latimer with EPNAC)
“They have their organic weapon systems, and now we're asking them to put another 30 pounds of kit of ground control stations, all the accouterments that go…
ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec, 6, 2024) – A Mission Specialist Defender Mark IV remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) transits the Atlantic Ocean submerged during the Australia, United Kingdom and U.S. (AUKUS) Pillar II Subsea and Seabed Warfare Event Two/Integrated Battle Problem 25.1. During the event, U.S. Navy, Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy personnel launched, tested and provided demonstrations for several unmanned underwater vehicles, to include the Mission Specialist Defender Mark IV remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) and the IVER4 900 autonomous-underwater vehicle. The AUKUS Advanced Capabilities line of effort – known as Pillar II – is a seminal strategic partnership and technology accelerator for the three AUKUS nations to harness and uplift innovation enterprises and industrial bases, remove barriers to cooperation, and deliver advanced capabilities for AUKUS warfighters. (Image produced utilizing a screen capture from video.) (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Justin E. Yarborough)
A Soldier with 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces Regiment, Mississippi Army National Guard, checks communications while conducting boat infiltration training during Southern Strike 2024 (SSTK), at NASA Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, April 17, 2024. SSTK is a large-scale, joint multinational combat exercise that allows soldiers across the United States and our international partners access to exceptional training. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Benjamin Tomlinson)
