Defense Physical AI Roundup: Pentagon Writing Checks for Autonomous Systems, Drones & AI-Piloted Aircraft, Plus Latest in UVG Systems
aiinsider ·
The U.S. Department of Defense is significantly expanding its investment in autonomous physical AI systems, with recent contracts highlighting advancements in drones and unmanned ground vehicles. Orqa U.S. secured a $38 million contract for the Drone Dominance Gauntlet II program to manufacture MRM2 drones domestically. Simultaneously, XTEND AI Robotics received a $40.5 million order for 6,000 Striker systems designed for operations in environments without satellite navigation. The Navy also modified Shield AI’s agreement by $150 million, bringing total public and private commitments to the X-BAT AI-piloted aircraft program to $400 million. In the realm of ground vehicles, Textron Systems launched CoreMotion, a robotic control package that enables autonomy for both new and existing military vehicles. Additionally, Forterra demonstrated its MESA autonomous vehicle equipped with drone interceptors at the AUSA show, showcasing integrated counter-drone capabilities. These developments collectively signal a rapid shift toward fielding proven autonomous technologies across air and land platforms.
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