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TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback Army C5ISR Center personnel demonstrate the Soldier Wearable Power Generator 2.0 prototype at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in May 2026. The SWPG reduces the number and weight of batteries that Soldiers carry over extended missions. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Mobile Power Generation Army C5ISR Center personnel demonstrate the Soldier Wearable Power Generator 2.0 prototype at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in May 2026. The SWPG reduces the number and weight of batteries that Soldiers carry over extended missions. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Broad Technical Expertise Army C5ISR Center personnel demonstrate the Soldier Wearable Power Generator 2.0 prototype at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in May 2026. The SWPG reduces the number and weight of batteries that Soldiers carry over extended missions. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lafontaine) ❮ ❯ ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (June 10, 2026) — The energy demand from Soldier’s electronic devices continually grows as the Army develops more advanced tech to meet demands of today’s battlefields. Researchers are exploring quieter, wearable power systems as part of multiple projects to power Soldiers. The Army’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center leads this effort to reduce the number and weight of batteries that Soldiers carry over extended missions. Army scientists and engineers are developing the Soldier Wearable Power Generator 2.0, which weighs less than 3 pounds and fits into a rucksack. “Adding methanol water to the system enables on-the-move charging of electronics while reducing logistics re-supply issues. The SWPG goal is to allow multiple days of operations while powering an average load of Soldier-worn and -carried electronics,” said C5ISR Center research engineer Dr. Richard Scenna. “A Soldier would save about 20 pounds of battery weight.” The SWPG is one component of the Center’s R&D initiatives to deliver greater power technology to Soldiers. “The C5ISR Center’s efforts across a diverse team of mechanical, chemical and electrochemical subject-matter experts is a force multiplier for advancing the Army’s tactical power solutions,” said C5ISR Center Director Beth Ferry. “It creates a complete picture of the technical challenges, such as power demand and integration. Our S&T expertise enables us to share and understand Soldier feedback, preferences and challenges to quickly transition research into advanced solutions.” TECHNOLOGY Broad Technical Expertise Army C5ISR Center personnel demonstrate the Soldier Wearable Power Generator 2.0 prototype at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in May 2026. The SWPG reduces the number and weight of batteries that Soldiers carry over extended missions. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback Army C5ISR Center personnel demonstrate the Soldier Wearable Power Generator 2.0 prototype at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in May 2026. The SWPG reduces the number and weight of batteries that Soldiers carry over extended missions. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lafontaine) ❮ ❯ In recent years, subject-matter experts have worked with industry to improve the prototype’s performance while reducing the weight, size and noise level based on Soldier feedback during limited user test events for the system’s form, fit and function. Researchers will continue Soldier testing of the devices and are in close communication with an Airborne Division to be the first to demonstrate this new capability. Initial research focused on integrating early SWPG prototypes to charge the thin, flexible Conformal Wearable Battery that Soldiers wear on their vests as a central power source for radios, night-vision devices, weapons and more, Scenna said. An emerging R&D focus area is charging uncrewed aircraft systems, which are growing rapidly in the scale and importance of modern warfare. To keep large numbers of UAS batteries charged across a wide variety of combat conditions and scenarios, integrating wearable power systems is a viable solution. “In the past, power generation was limited to loud diesel generators located in the rear echelon to avoid giving away Soldiers’ positions,” Scenna said. “With the advent of new, advanced equipment that Soldiers need to carry, power is now required at the front, which requires a new type of mobile power generation technology to avoid detection.” —————————— The U.S. Army Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center is the Army’s applied research and advanced technology development center for C5ISR capabilities. As the Army’s primary integrator of C5ISR technologies and systems, DEVCOM C5ISR Center supports our networked Warfighters by identifying, developing, maturing, and rapidly integrating innovative technologies to drive continuous transformation. DEVCOM C5ISR Center is an asset of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. DEVCOM is the Futures and Concepts Command’s leader and integrator within a global ecosystem of scientific exploration and technological innovation. DEVCOM expertise spans seven major competency areas to provide integrated research, development, analysis and engineering support to the Army and Department of War. From rockets to robots, drones to dozers, and aviation to artillery, DEVCOM innovation is at the core of the combat capabilities American Warfighters need to win on the battlefield of the future. For more information, visit c5isrcenter.devcom.army.mil.

TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback Army C5ISR Center personnel demonstrate the Ground-based Multi-Mission Payload proof-of-concept prototype at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in April 2026. The technology includes a suite of hardware and AI-enabled software with advanced sensors, which has been outfitted onto a variety of ground vehicles and robotic platforms. (Photo Credit: John Martinez) TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback Army C5ISR Center personnel demonstrate the Ground-based Multi-Mission Payload proof-of-concept prototype at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in April 2026. The technology includes a suite of hardware and AI-enabled software with advanced sensors, which has been outfitted onto a variety of ground vehicles and robotic platforms. (Photo Credit: John Martinez) TECHNOLOGY Open Architecture Army C5ISR Center personnel demonstrate the Ground-based Multi-Mission Payload proof-of-concept prototype at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in April 2026. The technology includes a suite of hardware and AI-enabled software with advanced sensors, which has been outfitted onto a variety of ground vehicles and robotic platforms. (Photo Credit: John Martinez) TECHNOLOGY Open Architecture Army C5ISR Center personnel demonstrate the Ground-based Multi-Mission Payload proof-of-concept prototype at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in April 2026. The technology includes a suite of hardware and AI-enabled software with advanced sensors, which has been outfitted onto a variety of ground vehicles and robotic platforms. (Photo Credit: John Martinez) TECHNOLOGY Maximum Force Protection Army C5ISR Center personnel demonstrate the Ground-based Multi-Mission Payload proof-of-concept prototype at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in April 2026. The technology includes a suite of hardware and AI-enabled software with advanced sensors, which has been outfitted onto a variety of ground vehicles and robotic platforms. (Photo Credit: John Martinez) ❮ ❯ FORT BELVOIR, Va. (June 4, 2026) — To defeat adversaries’ explosive hazards on today’s battlefield, U.S. Army researchers are integrating the latest advances in artificial intelligence to deliver greater lethality and survivability to Soldiers. With Soldiers facing increasingly sophisticated and complex threats, Army scientists and engineers are developing capabilities to enable persistent ground situational awareness for maximum force protection. The Army’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center leads the Ground-based Multi-Mission Payload project. Breaching minefields has historically been one of the most dangerous tasks for troops. By automating the monotonous and fatiguing task of manual threat scanning, Soldiers can focus their attention on the broader tactical environment while easing the cognitive load. While unmanned aerial systems can cover wide areas, ground systems remain essential to detect threats aerial assets can’t see. “Our S&T and technical expertise across core competencies including advanced sensing, intelligence, and command and control are delivering critical advantages for our Soldiers — situational awareness, enhanced operational speed, and safety,” said C5ISR Center Director Beth Ferry. TECHNOLOGY Maximum Force Protection Army C5ISR Center personnel demonstrate the Ground-based Multi-Mission Payload proof-of-concept prototype at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in April 2026. The technology includes a suite of hardware and AI-enabled software with advanced sensors, which has been outfitted onto a variety of ground vehicles and robotic platforms. (Photo Credit: John Martinez). TECHNOLOGY Persistent Situational Awareness Army C5ISR Center personnel demonstrate the Ground-based Multi-Mission Payload proof-of-concept prototype at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in April 2026. The technology includes a suite of hardware and AI-enabled software with advanced sensors, which has been outfitted onto a variety of ground vehicles and robotic platforms. (Photo Credit: John Martinez). TECHNOLOGY Persistent Situational Awareness Army C5ISR Center personnel demonstrate the Ground-based Multi-Mission Payload proof-of-concept prototype at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in April 2026. The technology includes a suite of hardware and AI-enabled software with advanced sensors, which has been outfitted onto a variety of ground vehicles and robotic platforms. (Photo Credit: John Martinez). ❮ ❯ The GMMP proof-of-concept prototype includes a suite of hardware and AI-enabled software with advanced sensors, which have been outfitted onto a variety of ground vehicles and robotic platforms: a specially equipped military vehicle; a robot dog; and a Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport, an unmanned, eight-wheeled heavy-duty robotic platform with instruments to complete multiple threat removal and complex mission sets, according to C5ISR Center physicist Kendall Johnson, the project’s technical lead. An AI model detects, classifies, and reports explosive threats in real-time, integrating seamlessly into the Tactical Assault Kit ecosystem that populates a common operating picture for the entire team, both inside the vehicles and in the command post. Soldiers can identify hazards from a safe standoff distance, turning hours of manual scanning into a millisecond-fast automated process. “The system incorporates a government-developed and -owned open AI architecture built by Army subject-matter experts,” Johnson said of the project’s plans for multi-algorithm support. “The Army can add the best algorithms from any source, at any time. The concept remains relevant into the future with the ability to incorporate new technologies as they emerge.” C5ISR Center Countermine Ground to Ground Portfolio lead Dr. Amin Abbasi Baghbadorani said another project goal is transitioning from current counter-explosive systems that are often built with proprietary software and hardware while limited to a single purpose. “GMMP is based on a modular concept to integrate commercial off-the-shelf hardware,” Abbasi Baghbadorani said. “Its open architecture is designed for rapid adaptation to new vehicles, sensors, and AI algorithms. The capabilities can be used with any platform and are easy to transition.” Working with noncommissioned officers assigned to the Center is critical to providing Soldiers with the best tools for lethality and survivability, Johnson said. “Feedback from NCOs has been incredible as we get feedback on-site,” Johnson said. “We’re able to make changes the same day and update the systems. It’s optimized the speed and pace of our project.” Sgt. 1st Class Michael Havens, a C5ISR Center enlisted adviser, is working with the project’s scientists and engineers to bring his operational expertise as a network communication systems specialist into the technology development cycle. “There’s an instant feedback loop,” Havens said. “What we do as enlisted Soldiers for C5ISR Center is they will give us their technology, show us how operate it, and run us through scenarios. We’ll tell them how to design the system to make it easier to use, more functional. Situational awareness is key. 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TECHNOLOGY Intelligent Power Management Army C5ISR Center personnel test the new CFx battery at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on May 12, 2026. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Intelligent Power Management Army C5ISR Center personnel test the new CFx battery at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on May 12, 2026. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Streamlining Logistics Army C5ISR Center personnel test the new CFx battery at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on May 12, 2026. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Drop-In Replacement Army C5ISR Center personnel test the new CFx battery at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on May 12, 2026. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Streamlining Logistics Army C5ISR Center personnel test the new CFx battery at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on May 12, 2026. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lafontaine) ❮ ❯ ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (May 26, 2026) — As Army researchers develop advanced batteries for Soldiers, the new CFx battery is headed to the field to power a myriad of equipment, including radios and equipment for imaging, targeting, and counter-explosive devices. The Army’s CFx battery – which units can procure beginning this year – provides Soldiers with a substantial increase in energy, while reducing weight, in a standardized form factor to meet the demands of the increasing network of next-generation technology. Research and collaboration among Army’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center; Communications-Electronics Command; and industry have led to the CFx non-rechargeable lithium battery, which is designed as a drop-in replacement for equipment that uses the xx90 series of batteries. According to C5ISR Center Director Beth Ferry, this advancement is a critical component of the service’s broader effort to enhance Soldier lethality, improve operational readiness, and streamline logistics. “By leveraging battery integration expertise and C5ISR relationships across Army and industry, we are expediting the adoption and fielding of standard batteries,” Ferry said. “This is leading to tangible benefits for Soldiers at all echelons.” TECHNOLOGY Streamlining Logistics Army C5ISR Center personnel test the new CFx battery at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on May 12, 2026. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Drop-In Replacement Army C5ISR Center personnel test the new CFx battery at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on May 12, 2026. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Intelligent Power Management Army C5ISR Center personnel test the new CFx battery at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on May 12, 2026. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Drop-In Replacement Army C5ISR Center personnel test the new CFx battery at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on May 12, 2026. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lafontaine) ❮ ❯ The battery is equipped with a System Management Bus interface that transforms it from a simple power source into a smart component of the Soldier’s networked gear, according to electronics engineer Ari Herman. “Our efforts are not just about adding raw power; it’s also about intelligent power management,” Herman said. “This ‘smart’ capability allows the CFx battery to communicate with the equipment it is powering, providing real-time data from the battery’s internal monitoring system for an accurate, real-time display of the battery’s state of charge.” The CFx battery follows the rollout last year of the Small Tactical Universal Battery that delivers eight sizes of batteries to provide tailorable amounts of energy depending on Soldiers’ mission needs. The STUB powers Soldier-worn or -carried equipment, such as night-vision goggles, GPS devices and weapon sights. The Army updated the MIL-PRF-32271 specification, under which the CFx battery is defined, in 2025 to incorporate the latest technical requirements and lessons learned for non-rechargeable lithium batteries. In addition, the Army has published MIL-STD-3078 (Interoperability Standard for Batteries Utilized in Army Equipment), which defines the battery types for new system design. C5ISR Center maintains the document that is updated as new standard battery form factors are required to meet emerging needs. “By adhering to standards like MIL-STD-3078, the Army can streamline research and development, reduce costs by leveraging existing battery platforms, and focus on the continuous improvement of these standardized batteries, ensuring they remain at the forefront of technology while maintaining backward compatibility,” said Scott Mahoney, a C5ISR Center branch chief. The Army launched a battery website in 2024 to provide information related to Soldiers, safety, system integrators and battery developers. The goal is to better serve the Warfighter and industry by creating a central location for information on military batteries. The latest specifications, guidance and integration documents can be accessed in a tailored form. —————————— The U.S. Army Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center is the Army’s applied research and advanced technology development center for C5ISR capabilities. As the Army’s primary integrator of C5ISR technologies and systems, DEVCOM C5ISR Center supports our networked Warfighters by identifying, developing, maturing, and rapidly integrating innovative technologies to drive continuous transformation. DEVCOM C5ISR Center is an asset of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. DEVCOM is the Futures and Concepts Command’s leader and integrator within a global ecosystem of scientific exploration and technological innovation. DEVCOM expertise spans seven major competency areas to provide integrated research, development, analysis and engineering support to the Army and Department of War. From rockets to robots, drones to dozers, and aviation to artillery, DEVCOM innovation is at the core of the combat capabilities American Warfighters need to win on the battlefield of the future. For more information, visit c5isrcenter.devcom.army.mil.

TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback U.S. Army Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division Artillery, conduct a fire mission rehearsal on an M777 howitzer during Lightning Surge 2 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Feb. 20, 2026. The soldiers were testing a new workflow where fire missions, received digitally via the Next Generation Command and Control prototype, are executed at the gun line. This soldier-led feedback is helping the Army develop future capabilities that are more lethal, accurate, and effective. (Photo Credit: Lt. Col. Hayden Howell) TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback U.S. Army Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division Artillery, conduct a fire mission rehearsal on an M777 howitzer during Lightning Surge 2 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Feb. 20, 2026. The soldiers were testing a new workflow where fire missions, received digitally via the Next Generation Command and Control prototype, are executed at the gun line. This soldier-led feedback is helping the Army develop future capabilities that are more lethal, accurate, and effective. (Photo Credit: Lt. Col. Hayden Howell) TECHNOLOGY Open Architecture U.S. Army Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division Artillery, conduct a fire mission rehearsal on an M777 howitzer during Lightning Surge 2 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Feb. 20, 2026. The soldiers were testing a new workflow where fire missions, received digitally via the Next Generation Command and Control prototype, are executed at the gun line. This soldier-led feedback is helping the Army develop future capabilities that are more lethal, accurate, and effective. (Photo Credit: Lt. Col. Hayden Howell) TECHNOLOGY Open Architecture U.S. Army Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division Artillery, conduct a fire mission rehearsal on an M777 howitzer during Lightning Surge 2 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Feb. 20, 2026. The soldiers were testing a new workflow where fire missions, received digitally via the Next Generation Command and Control prototype, are executed at the gun line. This soldier-led feedback is helping the Army develop future capabilities that are more lethal, accurate, and effective. (Photo Credit: Lt. Col. Hayden Howell) ❮ ❯ ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (May 22, 2026) — The Army’s R&D advancements in 5G network capability are delivering advancements for the 25th Infantry Division’s communications infrastructure during recent exercises, supporting the evolution of the service’s Next-Generation Command and Control (NGC2) prototype effort. As part of the 25th ID’s Lightning Surge experimentation series at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Army researchers and acquisition teams are integrating commercial 5G technology to significantly improve operational connectivity, leading to command and control breakthroughs. During Lightning Surge 2, Soldiers successfully executed a realistic battlefield test of the division’s modernization objective to complete the first end-to-end simulated fires mission on an M777 Howitzer over a private 5G network. Data and Soldier feedback from the exercise are being used in support of Lightning Surge 3, in the Philippines, and to inform other NGC2 exercises, including the Ivy Sting exercise series supported by the 4th Infantry Division. The Army’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center and acquisition stakeholders partnered with the 25th Infantry Division and industry to integrate the 5G capability into the NGC2 ecosystem for successful assessments. “Our research in networking and communications is enabling the Army to develop the technological infrastructure to establish NGC2,” C5ISR Center Director Beth Ferry said. “Coupled with real-world operational feedback, the C5ISR Center’s technical expertise is driving solutions for some of the Army’s most complex network challenges.” Together, this Army team-of-teams demonstrated a tangible method for modernizing legacy platforms by bridging them with next-generation communication pathways while addressing 25th ID’s critical learning demands, said Emanuel Merulla, a C5ISR Center senior engineer who leads the project’s research. “The hands-on training with 25th ID Soldiers produced an immediate feedback loop that allowed rapid refinement of the concept of operations on-site, ensuring the capability was not just technically functional but operationally trusted and understood by the end user,” Merulla said. Forward observers used a digital device to send target data into the network, which appeared on a shared common operating picture at the command post. Transitioning to an automated digital process eliminated the need for manual data entry into the fires system, which enabled a significant improvement in accuracy, lethality and survivability while shortening the time it takes to execute the mission. Concurrently, personnel transmitted electronic warfare sensor data over the same 5G network, demonstrating the system’s versatility. The C5ISR Center has led the Army’s adaptation of 5G technology for tactical use, working closely with industry and Army partners, according to the Center’s 5G lead Mike Piesen. Scientists and engineers are experimenting, testing and refining 5G capabilities in the lab and during events such as the Army’s annual Network Modernization Experiment in New Jersey. “Advancements allow for more connected devices to the network with faster real-time data processing. As the Army matures 5G capabilities, the goal is to keep units interconnected despite austere conditions, environmental and geographical challenges, or interference from enemy forces,” Piesen said. “As the military brings robotics, unmanned aerial systems, and autonomous platforms into the same area of the battlefield, the high spectral efficiency of 5G becomes critical.” ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (May 22, 2026) — The Army’s R&D advancements in 5G network capability are delivering advancements for the 25th Infantry Division’s communications infrastructure during recent exercises, supporting the evolution of the service’s Next-Generation Command and Control (NGC2) prototype effort. As part of the 25th ID’s Lightning Surge experimentation series at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Army researchers and acquisition teams are integrating commercial 5G technology to significantly improve operational connectivity, leading to command and control breakthroughs. During Lightning Surge 2, Soldiers successfully executed a realistic battlefield test of the division’s modernization objective to complete the first end-to-end simulated fires mission on an M777 Howitzer over a private 5G network. Data and Soldier feedback from the exercise are being used in support of Lightning Surge 3, in the Philippines, and to inform other NGC2 exercises, including the Ivy Sting exercise series supported by the 4th Infantry Division. The Army’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber,

TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback Army C5ISR Center hosted more than 20 companies in March 2026 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, for demonstrations and briefings as part of the service’s strategy for night-vision S&T adoption, adaptation, and development. Topics included precision targeting systems, cooled/uncooled infrared sensors, augmented reality, and thermal fusion solutions. During the Association of Night Vision Manufacturers event, C5ISR Center subject-matter experts presented services available to help industry advance their solutions. These include field experimentation at Fort A.P. Hill, aviation integration and testing at Davison Army Airfield, virtual prototyping, sensor performance evaluation, and the night-vision weapons firing range. (Photo Credit: John Martinez) TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback Army C5ISR Center hosted more than 20 companies in March 2026 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, for demonstrations and briefings as part of the service’s strategy for night-vision S&T adoption, adaptation, and development. Topics included precision targeting systems, cooled/uncooled infrared sensors, augmented reality, and thermal fusion solutions. During the Association of Night Vision Manufacturers event, C5ISR Center subject-matter experts presented services available to help industry advance their solutions. These include field experimentation at Fort A.P. Hill, aviation integration and testing at Davison Army Airfield, virtual prototyping, sensor performance evaluation, and the night-vision weapons firing range. (Photo Credit: John Martinez) ❮ ❯ FORT BELVOIR, Va. (April 1, 2026) — U.S. Army researchers are engaging with industry’s night-vision capability developers to help guide science and technology investments. The Army Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center recently hosted more than 20 companies for demonstrations and briefings as part of the service’s strategy for night-vision S&T adoption, adaptation, and development. Topics included precision targeting systems, cooled/uncooled infrared sensors, augmented reality, and thermal fusion solutions. TECHNOLOGY Maximum Force Protection Army C5ISR Center hosted more than 20 companies in March 2026 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, for demonstrations and briefings as part of the service’s strategy for night-vision S&T adoption, adaptation, and development. Topics included precision targeting systems, cooled/uncooled infrared sensors, augmented reality, and thermal fusion solutions. During the Association of Night Vision Manufacturers event, C5ISR Center subject-matter experts presented services available to help industry advance their solutions. These include field experimentation at Fort A.P. Hill, aviation integration and testing at Davison Army Airfield, virtual prototyping, sensor performance evaluation, and the night-vision weapons firing range. (Photo Credit: John Martinez) TECHNOLOGY Persistent Situational Awareness Army C5ISR Center hosted more than 20 companies in March 2026 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, for demonstrations and briefings as part of the service’s strategy for night-vision S&T adoption, adaptation, and development. Topics included precision targeting systems, cooled/uncooled infrared sensors, augmented reality, and thermal fusion solutions. During the Association of Night Vision Manufacturers event, C5ISR Center subject-matter experts presented services available to help industry advance their solutions. These include field experimentation at Fort A.P. Hill, aviation integration and testing at Davison Army Airfield, virtual prototyping, sensor performance evaluation, and the night-vision weapons firing range. (Photo Credit: John Martinez) ❮ ❯ “Participating in the Association of Night Vision Manufacturers event enables the Army R&D community to gain a better understanding of the emerging concepts and capabilities from industry,” said Dr. Richard Nabors, Principal Deputy Director of C5ISR Center’s Research and Technology Directorate. “The dialogues help inform us which technology areas can be adopted or adapted in the near term for the battlefield and where new research and development is needed.” In addition, C5ISR Center subject-matter experts presented services available to help industry advance their solutions. These include field experimentation at Fort A.P. Hill, aviation integration and testing at Davison Army Airfield, virtual prototyping, sensor performance evaluation, and the night-vision weapons firing range. “Army scientists and engineers combining expertise with industry counterparts enables the military to deliver the best weapons systems to Soldiers while ensuring the optimal government investments,” Nabors said. —————————— The U.S. Army Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center is the Army’s applied research and advanced technology development center for C5ISR capabilities. As the Army’s primary integrator of C5ISR technologies and systems, DEVCOM C5ISR Center supports our networked Warfighters by identifying, developing, maturing, and rapidly integrating innovative technologies to drive continuous transformation. DEVCOM C5ISR Center is an asset of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. DEVCOM is the Futures and Concepts Command’s leader and integrator within a global ecosystem of scientific exploration and technological innovation. DEVCOM expertise spans seven major competency areas to provide integrated research, development, analysis and engineering support to the Army and Department of War. From rockets to robots, drones to dozers, and aviation to artillery, DEVCOM innovation is at the core of the combat capabilities American Warfighters need to win on the battlefield of the future. For more information, visit c5isrcenter.devcom.army.mil.

TECHNOLOGY Superior Performance Army C5ISR Center optical engineer Brian Kellermeyer conducts research on the Folded Lightweight Annular Telescope project at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in January 2026. (Photo Credit: John Martinez, C5ISR Center Public Affairs) TECHNOLOGY Manufacturing Advancements Army C5ISR Center optical engineer Brian Kellermeyer conducts research on the Folded Lightweight Annular Telescope project at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in January 2026. (Photo Credit: John Martinez, C5ISR Center Public Affairs) TECHNOLOGY Superior Performance Army C5ISR Center optical engineer Brian Kellermeyer conducts research on the Folded Lightweight Annular Telescope project at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in January 2026. (Photo Credit: John Martinez, C5ISR Center Public Affairs) TECHNOLOGY Manufacturing Advancements Army C5ISR Center optical engineer Brian Kellermeyer conducts research on the Folded Lightweight Annular Telescope project at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in January 2026. (Photo Credit: John Martinez, C5ISR Center Public Affairs) ❮ ❯ FORT BELVOIR, Va. — To meet the technological demands of unmanned aerial systems on today’s battlefield, Army researchers are delivering advanced optics that provide significantly higher resolution imaging at longer ranges. The Army’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center is leveraging its broad expertise in electro-optic/infrared research to bring enhanced capabilities to Soldiers for this critical piece of emerging military technology, according to optical engineer Brian Kellermeyer. The C5ISR Center is an element of the Combat Capabilities Development Command. The Folded Lightweight Annular Telescope, FLAT, project, which packages advanced optics into compact, lightweight, and low-cost UAS payloads, is key to the Center’s research and development for delivering the next generation of advancements. FLAT uses a novel reflective telescopic design, coupled with manufacturing advancements in precision mirror fabrication and optical alignment techniques. “These optics deliver much higher definition images and superior performance at extended ranges than currently fielded capabilities when coupled with aided target recognition algorithms for rapid search and cueing, increasing Soldier lethality and situational awareness,” Kellermeyer said. “Soldiers can better detect, locate, and avoid enemy engagement threats in complex and contested environments.” TECHNOLOGY Strengthen Industrial Base Army C5ISR Center optical engineer Brian Kellermeyer conducts research on the Folded Lightweight Annular Telescope project at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in January 2026. (Photo Credit: John Martinez, C5ISR Center Public Affairs) TECHNOLOGY Manufacturing Advancements Army C5ISR Center optical engineer Brian Kellermeyer conducts research on the Folded Lightweight Annular Telescope project at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in January 2026. (Photo Credit: John Martinez, C5ISR Center Public Affairs) ❮ ❯ With the large UAS quantities the Army plans to procure for future warfare, affordability will be essential. C5ISR Center’s UAS science and technology mission pursues paths to incorporate long-range, advanced electro-optics/infrared sensors while decreasing cost. “FLAT optics are pushing boundaries by enabling a mirror-based solution that’s not dependent on rare earth minerals or more expensive optical components,” he said. “Our programs enable a new configuration. The prototypes that we build here and transition to industry enable better use cases for the Warfighter.” Because the government leads the FLAT initiative and owns the design rights, C5ISR Center can rapidly transition this technology directly to multiple industry partners for immediate integration into emerging payloads for Launched Effects and small UAS. The Army uses Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, as well as Small Business Innovation Research and Manufacturing Technology partnerships, to bring multiple vendors into the effort. “Through government rights, we can help spur industry toward this solution set and deliver a larger production level quantity,” Kellermeyer said. “By distributing it openly, the Army effectively ‘burns down risk’ for industry. The goal is to strengthen the defense industrial base and increase supply chains.” C5ISR Center works across the sensors community of interest through the Military Sensing Symposia with Army, government and industry partners to discuss research breakthroughs. During a recent MSS Parallel Conference, Center researchers reinforced key benefits of FLAT optics, including scalable and modular designs, enabling other ground- or Soldier-borne use cases to take advantage of the increased magnification that FLAT optics provide. The designs can also be applied to multiple wave bands, including cooled and uncooled thermal sensors. Initial prototypes of small FLAT payloads are set for field demonstration and operational experimentation in 2026. Through CRADAs, C5ISR Center plans to transition the FLAT technology, making it available on the UAS Marketplace once the sensor suite is packaged into a suitable gimbal solution. The Marketplace aims to streamline the process for Department of War and interagency partners to identify and procure the right equipment to meet their needs through a catalog of validated counter-UAS systems and components, according to Joint Interagency Task Force 401. —————————— The U.S. Army Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center is the Army’s applied research and advanced technology development center for C5ISR capabilities. As the Army’s primary integrator of C5ISR technologies and systems, DEVCOM C5ISR Center supports our networked Warfighters by identifying, developing, maturing, and rapidly integrating innovative technologies to drive continuous transformation. DEVCOM C5ISR Center is an asset of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. DEVCOM is Transformation and Training Command’s leader and integrator within a global ecosystem of scientific exploration and technological innovation. DEVCOM expertise spans seven major competency areas to provide integrated research, development, analysis and engineering support to the Army and Department of War. From rockets to robots, drones to dozers, and aviation to artillery – DEVCOM innovation is at the core of the combat capabilities American Warfighters need to win on the battlefield of the future. For more information, visit c5isrcenter.devcom.army.mil.

TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jeremy Ephriam, assigned to 36th EN BDE, prepares a Ground Obstacle Breaching Lane Neutralizer drone (GOBLIN) for launch during Project Convergence-Capstone 5 (PC-C5) on Fort Irwin, Calif., in March 2025. PC-C5 showcases multi-domain concepts, demonstrates advanced future capabilities and experiments with future concepts for the Army, Joint Services, and Multinational allies and partners. (Sgt. Marita Schwab) TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback U.S. Army National Guard A Troop and B Troop Soldiers from the Regimental Engineer Squadron, 278th Armored Calvary Regiment, use an Assault Breacher Vehicle to fire an M58 Mine Clearing Line Charge, June 8, 2024 on Fort Cavazos. Soldiers fired multiple MICLIC successfully as part of an XCTC mine clearing exercise. (Sgt. Grayson Cavaliere) TECHNOLOGY Open Architecture U.S. Army Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center personnel demonstrates one of the unmanned aircraft systems upgraded with advanced sensor technology, and is a part of the Autonomous Breaching System (ABS), during a training exercise located at Fort Liberty, N.C. The ABS was developed to help create a faster, more reliable, and safer way to clear obstacles compared to legacy breaching technology. (Dan Lafontaine, C5ISR Center Public Affairs) ❮ ❯ FORT BELVOIR, Va. — Amidst today’s modern battlefield, most people would only think of Soldiers swinging grappling hooks and probing the ground as historical accounts of mine-clearing techniques. Unfortunately, Soldiers still find themselves within an arm’s reach of deadly mine threats and calculated obstructions. While the U.S. Army continues to modernize and transform, Soldiers are trying to decrease their reliance on legacy systems as they face endlessly evolving threats. For nearly 40 years, the Army has used the M58 Mine Clearing Line Charge, or MICLIC, as a complement to Soldiers manually clearing mines and obstacles. The MICLIC’s legacy ties back to Col. Harry D. Tyson, who invented a type of mine-clearing charge during the Battle of Anzio in 1944. For decades, Warfighters have depended on the MICLIC as a standard for quickly creating breaching lanes through obstructions and minefields. Today, the Army is modernizing breaching equipment and procedures with a renewed focus on automation and keeping Soldiers farther out of harm’s reach during breaching operations. The Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center has collaborated with industry partners and the Project Manager Close Combat Systems under the Joint Program Executive Office Armaments and Ammunition , to develop a system to enhance breaching operations and increase Soldiers’ survivability. The Autonomous Breaching System (ABS) was born through this collaboration. The ABS was developed to provide a faster, more reliable, and safer way to clear obstacles compared to traditional breaching methods — potentially replacing the M58 MICLIC system and other legacy systems like the Mine Clearing Roller. TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jeremy Ephriam, assigned to 36th EN BDE, prepares a Ground Obstacle Breaching Lane Neutralizer drone (GOBLIN) for launch during Project Convergence-Capstone 5 (PC-C5) on Fort Irwin, Calif., in March 2025. PC-C5 showcases multi-domain concepts, demonstrates advanced future capabilities and experiments with future concepts for the Army, Joint Services, and Multinational allies and partners. (Sgt. Marita Schwab) TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback U.S. Army National Guard A Troop and B Troop Soldiers from the Regimental Engineer Squadron, 278th Armored Calvary Regiment, use an Assault Breacher Vehicle to fire an M58 Mine Clearing Line Charge, June 8, 2024 on Fort Cavazos. Soldiers fired multiple MICLIC successfully as part of an XCTC mine clearing exercise. (Sgt. Grayson Cavaliere) TECHNOLOGY Open Architecture U.S. Army Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center personnel demonstrates one of the unmanned aircraft systems upgraded with advanced sensor technology, and is a part of the Autonomous Breaching System (ABS), during a training exercise located at Fort Liberty, N.C. The ABS was developed to help create a faster, more reliable, and safer way to clear obstacles compared to legacy breaching technology. (Dan Lafontaine, C5ISR Center Public Affairs) ❮ ❯ Over the last few years, experts with the C5ISR Center have been working with academia and industry partners to develop multi-mission sensing payloads integrated with on-board artificial intelligence/machine learning algorithms that detect explosive hazard threats in real time. ABS is leveraging these detection algorithms in conjunction with neutralization capabilities to modernize breaching operations. “The ABS brings precision detection and neutralization to the Soldier, to increase their lethality, survivability and stand-off from the breach lane,” said Michael Donnelly, detection lead, C5ISR Center. “Our algorithms can be ported to any system that has visible and infrared cameras to support day and night operations. Additionally, the scalability and precision ensure that you don’t have to fire a line-charge to pinpoint a single mine.” The ABS platform represents a leap forward from legacy systems, emerging as a future critical capability multiplier for ground forces. It addresses several shortcomings of legacy systems that can remove Soldiers from immediate danger during breaching operations. This can have a profound impact on Soldiers’ survivability — placing the system in a class ahead of its predecessors. “Some of the Army’s current technologies are from the [1960s] and it’s important to give our Soldiers the latest and greatest technology,” said Kendall Johnson, physicist, C5ISR Center. “I think where we are now [with ABS] really pushes upon any sort of scenarios, any sort of battles, or any sort of conflicts that the Army is looking forward to in the future. Especially with the push of modern robotics and artificial intelligence. It gives us a strong advantage and helps us to outpace our enemies.” The ABS minimizes the window of vulnerability by reducing the time it takes Soldiers to breach an obstacle. Plus, the ABS’s increased range and maneuverability allows it to be effective against a broader spectrum of obstacles. TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jeremy Ephriam, assigned to 36th EN BDE, prepares a Ground Obstacle Breaching Lane Neutralizer drone (GOBLIN) for launch during Project Convergence-Capstone 5 (PC-C5) on Fort Irwin, Calif., in March 2025. PC-C5 showcases multi-domain concepts, demonstrates advanced future capabilities and experiments with future concepts for

TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback Soldiers conduct test flights of the Binocular Night Vision Device-Fused during a night mission. The BNVD-F integrates both image intensifiers and a thermal imaging sensor. Combining the power of thermal imaging with traditional night vision goggles, BNVD-F provides much greater situational awareness for Army aircrews. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback Soldiers conduct test flights of the Binocular Night Vision Device-Fused during a night mission. The BNVD-F integrates both image intensifiers and a thermal imaging sensor. Combining the power of thermal imaging with traditional night vision goggles, BNVD-F provides much greater situational awareness for Army aircrews. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) ❮ ❯ FORT BELVOIR, Va. (Aug. 21, 2025) — Army aircrews face challenging conditions to remain lethal and safe during night missions. To deliver solutions, the Army is leveraging researchers’ technical and operational expertise to maintain superior aviation performance. The Army’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center recognized a need from aviation crew chiefs, flight medics, door gunners and flight engineers for better night-vision goggles to improve situational awareness. Locating friendly and adversary personnel on the ground, avoiding obstacles in landing zones, and conducting medical evacuation operations are demanding tasks during night missions. C5ISR Center subject-matter experts have the experience and assets to solve the challenge as the R&D organization behind Army night-vision and thermal imaging technologies, according to branch chief Nick Andreyko. The Army started by collaborating with an industry partner to adapt the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular (ENVG-B), currently fielded to ground Soldiers, into a prototype suitable for aviation. Aviation specific engineering modifications were made to create the Binocular Night Vision Device-Fused (BNVD-F) that integrates both image intensifiers and a thermal imaging sensor. Combining the power of thermal imaging with traditional night vision goggles, BNVD-F provides much greater situational awareness for Army aircrews, Andreyko said. “The Center is uniquely positioned with the necessary pieces — including S&T workforce, night vision technology expertise, test pilots, and aircraft — to address these challenges,” said Josh Moore, a deputy assistant director. “The team understands when there’s an additional capability the Army can provide quickly at a low cost to provide a significant increase in capability.” FORT BELVOIR, Va. (Aug. 21, 2025) — Army aircrews face challenging conditions to remain lethal and safe during night missions. To deliver solutions, the Army is leveraging researchers’ technical and operational expertise to maintain superior aviation performance. The Army’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center recognized a need from aviation crew chiefs, flight medics, door gunners and flight engineers for better night-vision goggles to improve situational awareness. Locating friendly and adversary personnel on the ground, avoiding obstacles in landing zones, and conducting medical evacuation operations are demanding tasks during night missions. C5ISR Center subject-matter experts have the experience and assets to solve the challenge as the R&D organization behind Army night-vision and thermal imaging technologies, according to branch chief Nick Andreyko. The Army started by collaborating with an industry partner to adapt the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular (ENVG-B), currently fielded to ground Soldiers, into a prototype suitable for aviation. Aviation specific engineering modifications were made to create the Binocular Night Vision Device-Fused (BNVD-F) that integrates both image intensifiers and a thermal imaging sensor. Combining the power of thermal imaging with traditional night vision goggles, BNVD-F provides much greater situational awareness for Army aircrews, Andreyko said. “The Center is uniquely positioned with the necessary pieces — including S&T workforce, night vision technology expertise, test pilots, and aircraft — to address these challenges,” said Josh Moore, a deputy assistant director. “The team understands when there’s an additional capability the Army can provide quickly at a low cost to provide a significant increase in capability.” TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback Soldiers conduct test flights of the Binocular Night Vision Device-Fused during a night mission. The BNVD-F integrates both image intensifiers and a thermal imaging sensor. Combining the power of thermal imaging with traditional night vision goggles, BNVD-F provides much greater situational awareness for Army aircrews. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback Soldiers conduct test flights of the Binocular Night Vision Device-Fused during a night mission. The BNVD-F integrates both image intensifiers and a thermal imaging sensor. Combining the power of thermal imaging with traditional night vision goggles, BNVD-F provides much greater situational awareness for Army aircrews. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) ❮ ❯ From the inception of the concept, engineers worked with Army active-duty aviation units for direct feedback. They gained insights about what improvements Soldiers would like to see, what jobs they perform and how they use the equipment in the field. “Our in-house capabilities and experience are critical to complete the R&D cycle following work with the units,” Andreyko said. “C5ISR Center has test pilots who are former Army chief warrant officers, and owns a Black Hawk helicopter for test flights. Fort Belvoir’s Davison Army Airfield is in the perfect area where we can get urban and rural feedback on a single flight by doing a loop. These factors allow us to rapidly iterate for a quick turnaround time.” In addition, the C5ISR Center team traveled with a deploying Combat Aviation Brigade to conduct an operational assessment. “It’s very helpful for engineers to meet users in their environment to get feedback,” Andreyko said. “It’s also valuable for us to issue the goggles and do on-site training with Soldiers.” As the Air Force and Navy use a similar variant of the Black Hawk, C5ISR Center shares test reports and data, and vice versa, to save time and money as joint R&D efforts across rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. “Crews equipped with BNVD-F can offer a better set of ‘eyes’ to enhance Army aviation and MEDEVAC mission effectiveness as well as increase aircraft survivability by assisting pilots in obstacle and threat detection,” Moore said. “This is a prime example of how C5ISR Center can rapidly innovate a new capability for the Warfighter.” —————————— The U.S. Army Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center is the Army’s applied research

TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback C5ISR Center senior enlisted adviser Master Sgt. Arean Harbison demonstrates the Small Tactical Universal Battery at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in April 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Dan Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback C5ISR Center senior enlisted adviser Master Sgt. Arean Harbison demonstrates the Small Tactical Universal Battery at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in April 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Dan Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Open Architecture C5ISR Center senior enlisted adviser Master Sgt. Arean Harbison demonstrates the Small Tactical Universal Battery at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in April 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Dan Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Open Architecture C5ISR Center senior enlisted adviser Master Sgt. Arean Harbison demonstrates the Small Tactical Universal Battery at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in April 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Dan Lafontaine) ❮ ❯ ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — To ease physical, cognitive and logistical burdens on Soldiers, the Army is transitioning to a family of standard batteries — for systems ranging from night-vision goggles to radios, GPS devices, weapons and more — in an effort led by Army research and industry collaboration. In partnership with OSD’s Operational Energy – Innovation Directorate, the Army’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center is working across industry and several DoD organizations on this effort. Advanced batteries are rapidly integrated with Solider-worn and -carried devices, bringing interoperability and ease of use to the battlefield. Prototypes addressing these demands are moving toward full-scale industrial production. “When the pace of Army modernization increases, we see the number of applications for rechargeable batteries going up significantly,” said Dr. Nathan Sharpes, a C5ISR Center research mechanical engineer. “As the new equipment is fielded, we want to work as early in its development as possible to make sure it will operate with our newest standard batteries.” The Army’s power solution for handheld, small form-factor devices is the newest standard battery, the Small Tactical Universal Battery, or STUB. STUB delivers eight sizes of batteries that share a common mechanical and electrical interface — the key to unlocking interoperability. Each battery size provides a different amount of energy, from which Soldiers could choose, depending on their mission needs. TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback C5ISR Center senior enlisted adviser Master Sgt. Arean Harbison demonstrates the Small Tactical Universal Battery at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in April 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Dan Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback C5ISR Center senior enlisted adviser Master Sgt. Arean Harbison demonstrates the Small Tactical Universal Battery at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in April 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Dan Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Open Architecture C5ISR Center senior enlisted adviser Master Sgt. Arean Harbison demonstrates the Small Tactical Universal Battery at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in April 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Dan Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Open Architecture C5ISR Center senior enlisted adviser Master Sgt. Arean Harbison demonstrates the Small Tactical Universal Battery at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in April 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Dan Lafontaine) ❮ ❯ The Center’s work also supports senior Army leadership’s priority of streamlining and simplifying logistics across the force. Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll said “massive logistics convoys … are relics of the past” during congressional testimony in June. When a Soldier is on a mission carrying five different pieces of gear that each have a unique battery form factor, along with spares, there is extra weight and items to keep track of. “Any battery in the STUB family will be able to attach to any device designed for it because of the standard interface. Soldiers can focus more on their missions and less on which types of batteries and how many of each to carry,” Sharpes said. C5ISR Center senior enlisted adviser Master Sgt. Arean Harbison provides Soldier feedback to scientists and engineers developing new power technologies. “Standardizing the power type lets us achieve that long fight that we need to build the future,” Harbison said. “The STUB will be a better fix than what we’ve had in the past of resupplying batteries. Now we’re looking at potentially charging in the observation post and not needing resupply. To remain lethal, we need to sustain ourselves with additional power. Power becomes a form of lethality.” The C5ISR Center has partnered with three fellow DEVCOM centers — Armaments Center, Army Research Lab and Soldier Center — to develop and test STUB using their respective areas of expertise of weapons integration, advanced chemistry R&D and experimentation. Partnering early in development ensures both the batteries and systems they will power can be designed to be interoperable, rather than needing to make changes further along in the development cycle. C5ISR Center Senior Scientific Technical Manager for Power and Energy Marnie Bailey said the Army S&T community has been essential in leading the way to implementing standardized batteries. “DEVCOM scientists and engineers have overcome the technical hurdles to demonstrate that standardization and interoperability are possible,” Bailey said. “This research shows industry that adopting STUB to work with their equipment is the future of how the Army will power Solider-worn and -carried devices.” TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback C5ISR Center senior enlisted adviser Master Sgt. Arean Harbison demonstrates the Small Tactical Universal Battery at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in April 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Dan Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Soldier Feedback C5ISR Center senior enlisted adviser Master Sgt. Arean Harbison demonstrates the Small Tactical Universal Battery at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in April 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Dan Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Open Architecture C5ISR Center senior enlisted adviser Master Sgt. Arean Harbison demonstrates the Small Tactical Universal Battery at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in April 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Dan Lafontaine) TECHNOLOGY Open Architecture C5ISR Center senior enlisted adviser Master Sgt. Arean Harbison demonstrates the Small Tactical Universal Battery at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in April 2025. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Dan Lafontaine) ❮ ❯ As the Army and industry have transitioned the project to the manufacturing phase,

TECHNOLOGY Several Strykers are lined up and displayed during Project Flytrap 4.0 U.S. Army Stryker M1127 Reconnaissance Vehicles, assigned to 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, are staged to demonstrate anti-UAS capabilities during the static display portion of Project Flytrap 4.0 this past July. The Army is testing integrated laser defeat technology on its vehicles to enhance its defense against emerging threats. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Alejandro Carrasquel) ❮ ❯ FORT BELVOIR, Va. — Like something out of a sci-fi movie, cutting edge lasers could instantaneously incapacitate and disrupt technology while presenting an equally grave danger to Soldiers’ safety on the battlefield. Thus, mitigating laser vulnerabilities is crucial across a multi-domain operational environment. Dating back to the 1980s, the U.S. Army Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center has established a longstanding legacy of safeguarding electro-optical sensors from laser-based threats, starting when such weapons emerged and began shifting how wars were fought. To help safeguard Soldiers and equipment, the C5ISR Center’s science and technology efforts have been integrated into multiple generations of Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) systems. These systems, which utilize sensors that detect infrared radiation and are leveraged across target acquisition, surveillance and low-visibility navigation, have helped ensure Warfighters maintain an operational capability against laser-enabled threats in all combat scenarios, increasing Soldiers’ survivability and lethality. The Center’s expertise and technical knowledge of Soldier protection systems have resulted in the establishment of specialized laboratories designed to assess laser effects, not only on individual components — such as sensors, optics, and coatings — but also on complete systems. “These laboratories, still located throughout C5ISR Center’s footprint, remain at the forefront of laser vulnerability testing,” said Jason Bias, C5ISR Center. “They continue to lead efforts in evaluating the impact of laser-based search systems, jamming technologies, and direct-damage laser weapons on electro-optical platforms. Our facilities continue to serve as the industry benchmark for laser survivability testing. We also support our partners by evaluating their systems and assisting in replicating test designs at their own sites.” Additionally, the Center serves as the certification authority for its program manager, PM, partners, ensuring systems transition seamlessly to programs of record. The center also validates industry-replicated test configurations to ensure all production systems meet the required protection standards before deployment. Leveraging a deep understanding of sensor vulnerabilities to laser threats, the C5ISR Center develops advanced materials and engineers tailored protective components across all operational wavebands utilized by U.S. military systems. “We work in close coordination with system integration divisions and PM partners to ensure these protection solutions are effectively incorporated into emerging platforms — balancing survivability, affordability and performance,” said Bias. “Our technical leadership in the development of these protective components has positioned the center as the trusted subject matter expert for PMs procuring systems that incorporate a diverse array of laser protection technologies developed in-house.” As the Army’s sole remaining science and technology developer focused on protection against laser weapons, the C5ISR Center plays a critical role in informing both Army stakeholders and industry partners on available technologies and emerging threats identified through the intelligence community. The center’s agile development approach allows technology experts to adapt protection solutions to new platforms and sensor configurations. The center recently delivered a cost-effective protection solution in response to evolving threats. The effort not only met and exceeded all program metrics, but it also enabled broader application of a short-wave infrared sensor protection across multiple systems. Additionally, in response to the growing use of unmanned aerial systems and counter-UAS platforms, the center has rapidly adapted existing technologies to deliver effective laser protection for these emerging domains. “The C5ISR Center is focused on sustaining support for both current and emerging platform requirements — such as UAS protection and counter-UAS capabilities — while continuing to transition advanced protection technologies to the field,” said Bias. “To stay ahead of evolving threats, we are preparing for the next generation of laser weapons, including ultra-short pulsed laser systems.” These threats pose unique challenges due to their physical interactions with optical components and will necessitate a fundamental shift in protection strategies, rather than incremental improvements. Addressing this challenge will require sustained research, experimentation, and the development of novel techniques guided by a deliberate, multi-year technology development roadmap. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ The U.S. Army Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center is the Army’s applied research and advanced technology development center for C5ISR capabilities. As the Army’s primary integrator of C5ISR technologies and systems, DEVCOM C5ISR Center supports our networked Warfighters by identifying, developing, maturing, and rapidly integrating innovative technologies to drive continuous transformation. DEVCOM C5ISR Center is an asset of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. DEVCOM is Army Futures Command’s leader and integrator within a global ecosystem of scientific exploration and technological innovation. DEVCOM expertise spans eight major competency areas to provide integrated research, development, analysis and engineering support to the Army and DOD. From rockets to robots, drones to dozers, and aviation to artillery – DEVCOM innovation is at the core of the combat capabilities American Warfighters need to win on the battlefield of the future. For more information, visit c5isrcenter.devcom.army.mil/.