The U.S. Army is taking a bold step toward the future of combat mobility by awarding $15.5 million in new contracts to three commercial startups focused on autonomous ground vehicle technology.

Overland AI, Forterra, and Scout AI will now play a central role in fast-tracking self-driving systems into Infantry Squad Vehicles, which are expected to undergo soldier demonstrations and evaluations in May 2026.

According to an official statement, the initiative falls under the “Unmanned Systems Autonomy” program.

This effort is designed to integrate commercial autonomy directly into Army formations, allowing troops to test the latest innovations in real-world missions rather than controlled test sites.

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The Army’s approach is intentionally aggressive, with leaders determined to move faster than in past programs.

Col. Ken Bernier, project manager for Future Battle Platforms within the Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems, underscored this urgency. “We are looking forward to seeing how our industry partner’s autonomy solutions perform on vehicles while performing relevant military missions,” he said.

“We remain committed to bringing the best technologies to our warfighters and shaping the future of autonomous mobility for our Army at an unprecedented speed.”

The Army has long wrestled with the complexities of achieving fully autonomous performance in the unpredictable environments of combat.

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Unlike civilian self-driving cars that rely on consistent road markings and GPS, military vehicles must navigate forests, deserts, mountains, and urban rubble where conditions change quickly and unpredictably.

Maj. Gen. Glenn Dean, who previously led the Ground Combat Systems office, explained these obstacles after an off-road autonomy software assessment last year.

“The good news is we are moving forward in that area. The bad news is industry is nowhere near where people think in terms of off-road autonomy. There’s a lot of development to do.”

Dean also pointed out that early trials were not truly off-road but more akin to rough trails or unimproved roads.

“Building an autonomy algorithm that can identify the entire range of things it might encounter is challenging because you have a pretty big data set,” he said.

Because of these limitations, the Army has had to carefully refine its approach and focus on gradual integration.

Last year, the Army concentrated on choosing platforms and then layering different technologies, including autonomy, on top of them.

However, in a shift of priorities, the service canceled plans to purchase robotic combat vehicles.

Instead, it is doubling down on building autonomous capabilities that can be applied across multiple platforms.

This pivot explains why the Infantry Squad Vehicle, built by GM Defense, has become the centerpiece of the effort. The ISV is lightweight, flexible, and built for rapid maneuvering, making it an ideal candidate for autonomy.

At the same time, the Army is preparing to dramatically increase its purchases of the ISV, while scaling back acquisitions of Humvees and the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. This change signals a broader push toward mobility and adaptability for future combat formations.

The decision to work closely with startups mirrors the Pentagon’s larger strategy of harnessing commercial innovation to address military needs.

The self-driving revolution in the civilian world has advanced rapidly, and the Army is eager to adapt those breakthroughs for defense purposes.

Ground vehicles, in particular, serve as a natural test bed because they can immediately benefit from autonomy in both logistics and combat scenarios.

Overland AI is one of the leading examples of this crossover.

The company’s technology builds on work developed during the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s RACER program, which focused on high-speed, off-road autonomy.

Stephanie Bonk, co-founder and president of Overland AI, described the program as a turning point.

“There was really the time before the DARPA RACER program and then the time after,” Bonk explained.

“Prior to that, there really was no focus on navigating through unstructured terrain. Now we’re tackling environments where you can’t rely on GPS, you can’t rely on maps, and you can’t rely on good comms. These were things we had to solve as part of the problem.”

Bonk emphasized that the effort is not only about achieving technical milestones.

“The program is not about just fielding a reliable and robust autonomy capability, but really is about delivering a real operational capability. A major focus of this program is integrating with soldiers and I think that’s something we’re incredibly excited about.”

The Army’s initiative reflects both ambition and necessity. As adversaries continue to adapt and deploy new technologies, U.S. forces are under pressure to modernize quickly.

By working with startups and drawing on lessons from DARPA and other programs, the Army hopes to leap ahead rather than simply keep pace.

Autonomy remains one of the toughest problems to solve, especially in combat conditions.

Yet by connecting soldiers directly with these technologies in the field, the Army is positioning itself to identify what works and what still needs refinement.

If successful, the effort could mark a turning point in how American forces fight, move, and survive on future battlefields.

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