Indiana National Guard’s T-REX Program Accelerates Autonomous System from Pentagon Demo to Operational Use in Record Time

UNITED STATES

04.01.2026

Courtesy Story

Indiana National Guard Headquarters

INDIANAPOLIS – In an unprecedented demonstration of rapid innovation, the Indiana National Guard hosted the T-REX experimentation framework that was instrumental in advancing the Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System, also known as LUCAS, from a public demonstration to operational employment in seven months.

This achievement directly answers the call from national leadership to accelerate the delivery of critical capabilities to the Joint Force.

In July 2025, the Department of War publicly demonstrated LUCAS in the Pentagon courtyard as a clear signal of its intent to field affordable, autonomous capabilities. By February 2026, that same system was operationally employed during Operation Epic Fury, a timeline that shattered traditional defense acquisition models.

This rapid transition from concept to combat employment was made possible by the "speed of relevance" methodology at the heart of the Technology and Readiness Experimentation, also known as T-REX, program. The T-REX framework, championed by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, fosters an environment of intense collaboration between operators, engineers, and acquisition professionals.

The LUCAS achievement serves as a powerful new model for defense innovation, showcasing how the Indiana National Guard and its partners are turning vision into reality.

The Prototyping & Experimentation team is actively seeking new capabilities to demonstrate. Innovators and industry partners ready to showcase a capability are encouraged to schedule a discovery call by contacting the Experimentation Development Team at ousw\_re\_t-rex\[e-mail].

• Date Taken: 04.01.2026
• Date Posted: 04.01.2026 15:25
• Story ID: 561764
• Location: US