GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — 2nd Cavalry Regiment (2CR) Soldiers are testing out new warfighter-centric robotic and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) focused on increasing readiness for the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative (EFDI), giving troops a direct hand in evaluating technology designed to solve tactical challenges for the future battlefield, 3-13 March 2026, at Grafenwöhr Training Area, Germany.
The event\, called xTech|Edge Strike: Ground\, is hosted by the U.S. Army V Corps’ 2CR and supported by both xTech and G-TEAD. Soldiers from the 2d Squadron pushed the vendors’ UGVs through a series of infantry-focused lanes to test their capabilities and limits while operating in rugged terrain similar NATOs eastern flank.
“The most important feedback comes from the Soldiers who will actually fight with this equipment,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jason Kruck, commander of the 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment. “Events like this let us work directly with industry to test new technologies against real war fighting problems. As robotics, drones, and Artificial Intelligence becomes more common on the battlefield, we have to figure out how to integrate them into the fundamentals of combined arms maneuvers, so our formations remain fast, lethal, and adaptive.”
Vendor UGVs were assessed in three critical capabilities: (1) ground payload systems, where it assessed by its ability to traverse terrain to detect, disrupt, and defeat an enemy position. (2) Uncrewed, automated, modular ground platform where a UGVs autonomous capabilities were leveraged to deliver supplies to Soldiers and transport a casualty out of the area. (3) containerized ground launched effect system, this third capability was assessed by the effectiveness of autonomous and remote control of UAS systems.
The xTech Program invites a broad range of companies, including those who do not traditionally work with the military, to present their solutions and is sponsored by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology. A central feature of the event is a prize competition managed by the Army's xTech Program which supports vendors’ efforts to continue developing and evolving UGV technology in support of the future warfighter.
The event is part of a larger Army innovation initiative to accelerate the delivery of advanced capabilities to Soldiers. The focus on autonomous ground systems reflects the growing importance of unmanned technology in modern warfare, and the feedback from the event will inform the Army’s future modernization efforts as it looks to strengthen NATO readiness through real-world evaluations.
“This event demonstrates the power and value of partnership between NATO allies and private industry,” said Col. Matt Davis, V Corps' Transformation Chief. “By enabling Soldiers and vendors to work directly together in realistic operating environments, we can rapidly iterate towards the sort of cutting-edge capabilities that are shaping the modern battlefield.”
V Corps is the U.S. Army's only forward-deployed corps, serving as the senior tactical headquarters in Europe to deter conflict, train alongside NATO allies, and provide combat-ready forces, if necessary, to defend the alliance's eastern flank. V Corps is operationalizing and expanding the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative with Allies, rapidly integrating emerging technologies into training and tactical plans.