The U.S. Army conducted a live-fire demonstration of a self-driving Ford F-250 pickup equipped with a shotgun-armed counter-drone turret at Fort Bragg on August 18, 2026. Executed at Range 63 as part of Project Sandhills 2.0, the exercise evaluated a single automated platform capable of clearing physical obstacles while defending itself against incoming aerial threats.
The vehicle operates on the «Forterra» AutoDrive autonomy stack and carries an Edda counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) turret manufactured by «9 Mothers». The integration aims to automate hazardous obstacle reduction—such as clearing lanes through minefields and wire barriers—to remove military engineers from the direct blast radius and enemy observation, as reported on DVIDS.
Weighing approximately 23 kg, the Edda turret utilizes passive acoustic sensors to detect the sound profile of small drone rotors rather than relying on radar or radio-frequency signatures. Once a target is identified, an onboard visual tracking system guides the shotgun effector to engage fast-moving drones roughly 18 cm in diameter at ranges between 10 and 100 meters. The passive detection architecture prevents the vehicle from broadcasting RF signals that adversaries could exploit for targeting.
Project Sandhills 2.0 evolved from the initial Sandhills Project managed by the 20th Engineer Brigade under the XVIII Airborne Corps. The predecessor effort yielded the Lancer unmanned ground vehicle built on a Polaris Ranger chassis, which was subsequently supplied to Ukraine. «Forterra» secured the primary contract for Sandhills 2.0 on July 31, 2026, to deliver autonomous mission systems on Ford F-250 platforms designed for zone clearance and line-charge deployment.
The tactical drive to pair autonomous breaching units with kinetic C-UAS protection reflects operational lessons from Ukraine, where FPV drones frequently target engineering assets. By mounting onboard point-defense capabilities, the platform eliminates the requirement for dedicated escort vehicles during high-risk breaching maneuvers.
