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)
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)
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)
Marine Raiders with Fox Company, 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, provides perimeter security, at an undisclosed location Dec. 16, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Jared Saul)
“The ability to quickly integrate autonomous behaviors on multiple different platforms in multiple different domains, without it having to be specifically built for that platform, is something…
U.S. East coast-based Naval Special Warfare Operators (SEALs) conduct dive operations to increase maritime lethality during training off the coast of Key Largo, Florida, Feb. 18, 2025. Naval Special Warfare Group TWO produces, supports, and deploys the world’s most lethal maritime special operation forces to ensure the United States will deter and win wars. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Katie Cox)
U.S. Army Maj. Steven McPherson, a joint doctrine team chief with the National Guard Bureau, looks at the interface of the Maven Smart System in Arlington, Virginia Feb. 20. McPherson was in a class to learn the MSS and its capability to process vast amounts of data from weather to troop locations. (U.S. Army Photo by Master Sgt. Whitney Hughes)