Technology
US Army tests emerging battlefield technology in desert combat exercise
Thousands of soldiers evaluated uncrewed systems and experimental command software during urban assault drills.
The short version
- Nearly 10,000 US soldiers gathered at Fort Irwin to conduct mock combat exercises and test emerging technology.[Business Insider]
- Uncrewed systems like the Black Widow drone offered early surveillance advantages, while uncrewed ground assets saw limited use.[Business Insider]
- Troops encountered connectivity problems with the prototype Next Generation Command and Control network.[Business Insider]
- Army leadership noted that testing failures will help determine which experimental tools to abandon.[Business Insider]
Key facts
- Approximately 10,000 soldiers participated in the Project Convergence Capstone exercise at Fort Irwin, California, facing the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment as a mock opposing force.[Business Insider]
- Uncrewed aerial systems, including the Black Widow quadcopter, supported early surveillance but saw reduced deployment during close-quarters urban fighting.[Business Insider]
- The prototype Next Generation Command and Control network faced connection disruptions attributed to system faults or electronic warfare.[Business Insider]
- An uncrewed ground vehicle called NOMAD operated outside the training city but was not used during the assault.[Business Insider]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unverified whether prototype network connectivity issues were caused by internal software defects or simulated enemy electronic jamming.[Business Insider]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.