Autonomous Systems

Ground, air, or sea-launched kinetic munitions that utilize onboard sensors, algorithms, and control methods to improve estimates on the target state, understand the implications of the engagement situation/environment, or develop engagement geometries that are otherwise unavailable
to a conventional weapon.

Recent Inquiries

What is the state of the art in unmanned aerial systems for maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance?

What is the state of the art in unmanned aerial systems for maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance?

What U.S. Department of Defense methods implement laboratory test data into machine-learning algorithms to predict material properties?

What U.S. Department of Defense methods implement laboratory test data into machine-learning algorithms to predict material properties?

What information exists on aerial-based datasets of maritime vessels for training deep-learning artificial intelligence models to perform various tasks?

What information exists on aerial-based datasets of maritime vessels for training deep-learning artificial intelligence models to perform various tasks?

Articles

Aligning the Navy’s Fleet Experimentation With Capability Development

Amidst the crashing surf of a remote coastline, two U.S. Navy sailors clad in black wetsuits and protective helmets carry the MK18 Mod 1 Swordfish unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) toward the open ocean

A U.S. Air Force XQ-58A Valkyrie, an autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned air vehicle, blasts off during a test flight at Eglin Air Force Base. The test flight and data collected will inform future air operations and contribute to advanced autonomous programs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ilka Cole)

Air Force Advances Human-Machine Teaming With Autonomous Collaborative Platforms

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The U.S. Air Force recently demonstrated a major leap in human-machine teaming, flying autonomous collaborative platforms (ACPs) alongside crewed fighter aircraft during a training event at Eglin Air Force…

Artist’s concept of five performer designs for the DARPA ANCILLARY program’s EVADE demonstration. Image shows vertical takeoff-and-landing position and forward flight orientation, to scale, for each aircraft. Source: DARPA

DARPA to Demonstrate Revolutionary Drone Capabilities for Warfighters

Five cutting-edge unmanned aerial systems (UASs) are slated to begin flight testing later to highlight the versatility of vertical take-off and landing for UASs weighing less than 330 pounds. The vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)…

Webinars

drone flying in the sky at dusk

Automated/Autonomous Impacts Routing – Path Optimization Through Adverse Atmospheric Effects and Obstacles

Automated Impacts Routing (AIR) is a software system that uses a modified version of the A* algorithm by including environmental (atmosphere/terrain) effects coupled with shortest path calculations. It allows best and second-best path solutions as…

An autonomous vehicle flying in space

Attritable Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Conceptualization and Key Players

Air domain operations are critical to the U.S. military defense strategy. Military air domain missions use aircraft for tasks like attack; resupply; rescue; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; etc. Historically, air domain missions required manned aircraft,…

A U.S. Army AH-64D Apache helicopter

Adapted Risk Assessment for Safety Certification of AI-Enabled Mission Software Applications

As the safety functional authority for fielding materiel solutions, the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command’s Safety Office uses risk management to certify that materiel is safe when used as intended. While risk assessment processes…

Events

Image of a tracked vehicle with personnel operating it.

2025 AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition

The Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting & Exposition is the premier land power exposition and professional development forum in North America—and the must-attend event for anyone involved in the defense sector. With over 44,000…

Image of naval vessels in water

2025 Undersea Warfare Fall Conference

Mark your calendars and join us on September 15 -17, 2025 for the annual conference in undersea warfare. Connect with Navy leaders, defense experts, and industry professionals to gain cutting-edge insights into the latest advancements…

Image of a drone on an airstrip.

VERTEX

VERTEX | Launched Effects is a two-day symposium on capabilities that deploy reconnaissance, communications, electronic warfare, lethal, and other effects from air, ground, and sea systems from short to long range. This event brings together…