Lockheed Martin is demonstrating its latest advancements in crewed-uncrewed teaming, AI-driven autonomous systems, and integrated technologies at several U.S. Army events in 2024, including Project Convergence and the Army Futures Command’s Experimental Demonstration Gateway Event (EDGE).
These demonstrations are focused on enhancing the capabilities of the U.S. Army through innovative systems designed for the evolving landscape of 21st Century Security.
During the EDGE demonstration, Lockheed Martin executed complex air and ground teaming scenarios involving uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs). The technology featured a launched effect that provided autonomous overwatch guidance for a quadruped robot navigating urban terrain filled with obstacles, including both human and vehicle elements. This advanced system is built to operate even in environments where communications are degraded or intermittent.
Dan Morrison, technical program manager at Lockheed Martin, explained the importance of these developments: “Our experimentation is refining autonomous, collaborative behaviors and proving out AI/ML systems in a realistic and challenging environment. Ultimately, this will further enable commanders to better integrate humans and machines in formation and offer increased standoff and reduced workload for Soldiers.”
The event highlighted the Air-Ground Littoral, a critical area of Army operations where air and ground forces interact at altitudes up to a few thousand feet. Lockheed Martin views this zone as a space primarily occupied by ground forces and supporting assets like helicopters and launched effects, making it a key focus for their technological advancements.
Michael Harasimowicz, director of AI Innovations at Lockheed Martin, emphasized the role of AI in modern warfare: “AI enabling technologies are critical for the U.S. Army to harness decision advantage by extending and expanding sensor understanding at the edge of the battlespace. One day very soon you will see a mission where a Black Hawk helicopter sends information to launched effects that is out ahead of the fight and communicates with a UGV for first contact with the opposing force.”
The success of these demonstrations can be attributed in part to Lockheed Martin’s AI Center (LAIC) and its Applied AI researchers, many of whom are U.S. Army veterans. Fifteen LAIC members were present at the Yuma Proving Ground to support five AI-enabled capabilities during EDGE, showcasing the potential for synchronized AI systems across the air and ground domains.
“We are demonstrating our suite of AI capabilities for coordinated use and intuitive control across the Air and Ground domain featuring the Lockheed Martin Stalker uncrewed system and a Spot® quadruped robot from Boston Dynamics,” added Harasimowicz. “This synchronization of airborne and ground-based defenses demonstrates Lockheed Martin’s commitment to Force Protection Technologies, a key mission for the U.S. Army.”
As the defense sector increasingly integrates AI and autonomous technologies into military operations, Lockheed Martin’s initiatives at these demonstrations are setting a new standard for the future of battlefield capabilities.