The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center has partnered with HDT Robotics, operating as BLADE, to deliver an armed Hunter Wolf unmanned ground vehicle to the 3rd Mobile Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division for technical experimentation.
Originally built for logistical supply transport, the platform was deployed as an active tactical asset equipped with a remotely operated .50-caliber machine gun on a wireless Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station. This is reported by the military analytics portal Soldier Systems Daily.
Autonomous Weapons Architectures and Controls Branch Chief Andrew Wilson stated that the initiative demonstrates the organization’s collaborative capabilities, technical expertise, and capacity to rapidly deliver equipment to service members. BLADE provided the robotic platform and associated training, while the Armaments Center contributed its expertise in weaponry, armaments integration, and lethality training.
The demonstration took place in April at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, Louisiana, where the platform allowed operators to maintain a tactical presence while remaining out of the line of fire. The Armaments Center is currently gathering operational feedback from the division to refine future iterations.
According to Strategic Advisor to Project Acquisition Executive Layered Protection Josiah Fay, ongoing efforts focus on reducing cognitive load by advancing autonomous features that keep operators “on the loop” rather than “in the loop.” This approach enables soldiers to transition into supervisory roles over partially automated systems, increasing combat power and area of influence while maintaining positive control over lethal decisions.
