Robotics Competition Winners Advance Military Exploration of Humanoid Capabilities

 Sept. 29, 2026 | By Eleanor Kent, Army FUZE |

The Army named five companies as winners of its xTechHumanoid competition Sept. 11, capping an effort to assess how emerging commercial humanoid technologies could contribute to future military operations.

As the Army looks to robotics and autonomy to reduce soldier exposure to dangerous and physically demanding tasks, preserve combat power and give commanders more options, humanoid systems represent a growing area of exploration. That work extends across the joint force through the Humanoid Community of Collaboration, which was established in December 2023 to advance the technical development and operational integration of humanoid capabilities. 
 
The competition was a partnership between HCoC and the Army FUZE xTech program, which scouts and accelerates dual-use technologies that directly enhance soldier readiness and mission success. 
 
They launched xTechHumanoid to identify promising commercial approaches and establish a technical baseline for an emerging capability area. The competition offered Army and joint force stakeholders a direct look at the maturity of technologies in development across the commercial humanoid robotics market. 
 
"Humanoid robots are part of a broader autonomy push to increase the depth and breadth of robotic platforms, and [the] components industry can provide for a range of missions," said Alex Miller, the Army's chief technology officer. "We are identifying the problems, mission needs and opportunities to enable our formations with the right mix of tools. xTech is our method of surveying the industry landscape and fast-tracking promising technology rather than falling victim to yearslong studies." 
 
The competition drew 103 white paper submissions spanning baseline humanoid forms and advanced subsystem technologies. The top 10 companies advanced as finalists, with nine ultimately demonstrating their technologies for military leaders, technical experts and evaluators at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Sept. 9-10.
 
Following the demonstrations, the Army selected five xTechHumanoid winners: 

• ACES Group — an integrated power system designed to address energy needs across humanoid robotic systems with scalable energy storage technologies for applications ranging from larger operational infrastructure to individual robot batteries.  
• IHMC Robotics — "Alex," a humanoid robot featuring impact-resilient actuators, ballistic protection and hybrid autonomy combining artificial intelligence and human control for complex and dangerous missions. 
• Hydroplane Limited — a lightweight, compact mobile power-generation system designed to provide long-duration power in contested logistics environments.
• Ras Labs — highly sensitive fingertip tactile sensors designed to enable robotic systems to detect force, object form, slip and other physical interactions. 
• Velocity Explorations — software that builds on the company's command-and-control technology to translate trusted information and command intent into discrete actions for humanoid robotic systems. 

For participating companies, xTechHumanoid created a direct connection between commercial technology development and operational demand, providing opportunities to challenge their solutions, sharpen their understanding of mission needs and better identify where their capabilities could deliver military value.  
 
"The xTech competition is really an interesting and unique one because it allows you to pressure test your technology in a field exercise paradigm," said Alec Leesberg, Velocity Explorations president and cofounder. 
 
Anita Sengupta, founder and CEO of Hydroplane Limited, said competing makes companies better and connects them to a network of people across the military and the industry. 
 
With the competition complete, xTechHumanoid provides the Army and joint force a clearer picture of both the progress commercial industry has made in humanoid robotics and the technical challenges that remain, helping inform where continued development and experimentation can deliver the greatest value to the warfighter. The Humanoid Community of Collaboration is already building on those insights through its next lines of effort, including work to address power and energy constraints that could shape the operational employment of humanoid and other robotic systems.

Department of War and RTX Accelerate Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile Production Through $20.7B Award

Sept. 28, 2026 |

Today, the Department of War (DoW) announces an award to Raytheon, an RTX business, a contract that consists of a five-year multi-year contract with two option years valued up to $20.7 billion to produce Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), a critical air defense capability for U.S. and allied forces. This contract marks the latest victory in the Department's campaign to expand the munitions industrial base, nearly doubling AMRAAM production compared to previous levels.

"We are working across the defense industry to ramp production and build the Arsenal of Freedom," said Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael P. Duffey. "This award strengthens our ability to equip the Joint Force and our allies with a proven air-to-air capability, ensuring our warfighters maintain a decisive advantage."

Executed collaboratively by the Department of War, the U.S. Air Force, the Navy, and Foreign Military Sales allies, this joint program investment represents the latest major step to scale domestic manufacturing and fortify the security of our nation and its global partners.

The Department appreciates congressional partnership in providing multiyear procurement authority for AMRAAM and looks forward to continued support for additional authority and funding that would enable sustained production and greater certainty for the industrial base in the years ahead.

The contract was awarded Sept. 25, 2026.

About the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment:
The Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSW(A&S)) equips the Joint Force and allies with secure, resilient, and decisive capabilities. Driven by an unwavering commitment to the warfighter, A&S executes a portfolio-driven strategy to field advanced technologies at speed and scale. By accelerating acquisition and modernizing critical infrastructure, A&S is actively rebuilding the Arsenal of Freedom and securing our nation's enduring military advantage against any pacing threat.

About Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) Weapons:
Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) Weapons is a Department of the Air Force organization responsible for the design, development, production, and sustainment of a family of air-to-ground and air-to-air munitions for both U.S. and allied nations to defeat a spectrum of enemy targets.

 

DoW Approves $230 Million in Grants Under the Defense Community Infrastructure Program

Sept. 23, 2026 |

Today, the Department of War announces the award of twenty-six Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) grants from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, totaling approximately $230 million in federal awards. DCIP is a competitive program for states, territories, and communities to undertake infrastructure enhancements to support the mission assurance of a military installation, military family quality of life, installation resiliency, and/or the training of cadets at independent "covered educational institutions," that benefits their local installations.

On August 4, 2026, the Assistant Secretary of War for Energy, Installations, and Environment instructed the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation to invite grant applications for projects based on a competitive ranking of all proposed projects in response to an April 17, 2026, DCIP Notice of Funding Opportunity.  

These awards derive from Fiscal Year 2026 appropriated funding and leverage an additional $77 million in non-federal, $43 million in other funding, for a total investment of $350 million.

"The Fiscal Year 2026 awards deliver historic funding to the Defense Community Infrastructure Program, driving critical infrastructure upgrades that directly strengthen military installations nationwide," said Mr. Dale Marks, Assistant Secretary of War for Energy, Installations, and Environment. "This year's program includes $100 million from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, helping to secure key investments to support our national security, as well as the readiness and lethality of our warfighters." 

The Fiscal Year 2026 grant awards are as follows, in alphabetical order by state: 

• A federal grant for $18,492,378 to the City of Anniston, Alabama, for a $19,092,378 project to improve the primary runway at Anniston Regional Airport in support of Anniston Army Depot. 

• A federal grant for $10,800,000 to the City of Huntsville, Alabama, for a $16,212,400 project to construct transportation access in support of Redstone Arsenal. 

• A federal grant for $8,540,886 to the City of Twentynine Palms, California, for a $8,540,866 project to construct transportation access in support of Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms.

• A federal grant for $9,784,000 to the County of Monterey Department of Public Works, Facilities, and Parks, California, for a $12,004,816 project to construct transportation access in support of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hunter Liggett.  

• A federal grant for $10,948,971 to the Muroc Joint Unified School District, California, for a $11,748,479 project to construct an educational facility in support of Edwards Air Force Base. 

• A federal grant for $19,286,800 to the Denver Board of Water Commissioners dba Denver Water, Colorado, for a $20,163,400 project to undertake a water supply project in support of Buckley Space Force Base.  

• A federal grant for $1,686,737 to Mountain View Electric Association, Inc., Colorado, to undertake a utility upgrade in support of Schriever Space Force Base.  

• A federal grant for $9,594,409 to the Hawai'i State Department of Education, Hawaii, for a $10,350,441 project to construct recreation and community-support infrastructure in support of Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

 • A federal grant for $4,500,000 to the City of Mountain Home, Idaho, for a $5,000,000 project to construct wastewater capacity for current and future growth in support of Mountain Home Air Force Base.  

• A federal grant for $6,765,530 to the City of Burlington, Iowa, to construct a fire station in support of Iowa Army Ammunition Plant.  

• A federal grant for $3,218,359 to the Commissioners of St. Mary's County, Maryland, for a $4,597,656 project to construct pedestrian and transportation access in support of Naval Air Station Patuxent River.  

• A federal grant for $1,040,000 to the North Dakota Department of Transportation, North Dakota, for a $1,300,000 project to construct transportation improvements in support of Minot Air Force Base. 

• A federal grant for $10,000,000 to the City of Midwest City, Oklahoma, for a $43,073,392 project to construct a recreation facility in support of Tinker Air Force Base. 

• A federal grant for $12,371,947 to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma, to undertake rail improvement in support of McAlester Army Ammunition Plant.

• A federal grant for $982,100 to the Oklahoma Industries, Oklahoma, for a $1,590,350 project to construct additional food access in support of Tinker Air Force Base. 

• A federal grant for $954,100 to the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority, Pennsylvania, for a $1,363,000 project to rehabilitate water infrastructure that supports Harrisburg Air National Guard Base. 

• A federal grant for $20,000,000 to Douglas School District 51-1, South Dakota, for a $64,498,712 project to construct a new elementary school in support of Ellsworth Air Force Base.  

• A federal grant for $17,830,308 to the City of Corpus Christi, Texas, for a $25,471,869 project to modernize a water line corridor in support of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi 

• A federal grant for $20,000,000 to the City of San Angelo, Texas, for a $28,633,852 project to construct transportation and utility infrastructure improvements in support of Goodfellow Air Force Base. 

• A federal grant for $13,835,926 to San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District, Texas, for a $14,879,186 project to construct an elementary school in support of Laughlin Air Force Base. 

• A federal grant for $9,268,020 to Davis County Government, Utah, for a $13,268,020 project to construct transportation access in support of Hill Air Force Base. 

• A federal grant for $3,003,000 to the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, for a $4,290,000 project to upgrade wastewater infrastructure in support of Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads.

• A federal grant for $313,000 to the County of York, Virginia, for a $391,114 project to construct a pedestrian crosswalk in support of Joint Base Langley-Eustis. 

• A federal grant for $13,170,030 to the Hampton Roads Sanitation District, Virginia, for an $18,814,329 project to construct sewer infrastructure improvements in support of Naval Station Norfolk and Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads. 

• A federal grant for $1,024,848 to Selah Fire Department/Yakima County Fire District 2, Washington, for a $1,191,198 project to construct a firefighting training facility in support of Joint Base Lewis-McChord Yakima Training Center.

• A federal grant for $2,236,500 to Spokane County, Washington, for a $3,195,000 project to construct transportation access in support of Fairchild Air Force Base. 

Groundbreaking on these projects may commence once all environmental requirements have been met.  

The Defense Community Infrastructure Program is authorized under 10 U.S. Code § 2391(d).  

Pentagon Showcases Dozens of Advanced Energy Projects

Sept. 22, 2026 | By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News |

On display at the Pentagon for three days are more than 100 exhibits related to energy innovation, including the Army's Tactical Microgrid Standard, the Navy's system to use microwaves to beam limitless power from space and the Air Force's Modular Energy for Tactical Expeditionary Operations Resource, or METEOR power system. 

The Energy Sentry - Pentagon: DoW's Energy Innovation Expo, which began today, showcases War Department efforts to address the modern reality that operational energy at the tactical edge and energy used to power the installations inside the United States are the same thing. 

"For too long, defense planners operated under a false construct," said Dale R. Marks, the assistant secretary of war for energy, installations and environment. "We built a firewall between installation energy — the power running our bases at home — and operational energy — the fuel and the batteries powering our assets at the tactical edge. Today, that seam is completely gone; it's blurred into irrelevance." 

America's adversaries, Marks said, do not distinguish between a microgrid in Georgia and a generator in the Pacific. 

"They know that they don't have to defeat our warfighters on a distant battlefield if they can cripple the domestic grids that power our control centers, our logistics hubs and our deployment platforms," he said. "Our installations are warfighting platforms, and we have to treat them that way. ... If the power at home is vulnerable, our force projection is compromised before a single boot hits the ground." 

The energy expo, Marks said, showcases efforts by the department and military services to respond to the realities of energy security at home and abroad. 

"The emerging technologies showcased here ... represent the rapid, aggressive innovation designed to secure American energy dominance," he said. 

Marks highlighted four key energy focus areas within the War Department: Golden Dome for America, nuclear capabilities, space and energy superiority. 

The Golden Dome kill chain, he said, is energy-intensive, and the War Department prioritizes getting what it needs to power directed energy systems. 

"We're delivering the energy backbone for [the] Golden Dome," Marks added. "We're rapidly innovating to reduce integration risks for high-power weapon systems and advanced sensors. And if we want to deploy directed energy, high-energy microwave and advanced radar systems, we must solve the energy equation." 

Directed-energy systems lower cost per shot and increase magazine depth, but Marks said they are "power-hungry," and the War Department must meet that power demand to make the Golden Dome a success. 

"Energy is the lifeblood of the entire Golden Dome kill chain," he said. "It goes from space-based early warning sensors to ground-based radar and kinetic and non-kinetic interceptors." 

He referenced two systems that will help make the Golden Dome possible: the Army's Tactical Microgrid Standard and the Navy's Common Operational Resilience and Energy Storage. 

Nuclear Advancements 

The department is accelerating development of TRISO — tristructural isotropic particle fuel — as a commercially available fuel for advanced reactors. Marks said TRISO creates a domestic nuclear fuel supply chain that supports the Army's initiative to deploy commercially owned and operated nuclear microreactors at domestic military installations, called the Janus program, and the Air Force's Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations program, called ANPI. 

"We're ensuring that we never rely on a strategic competitor for our nuclear fuel," he said. 

The department is also investing in the Versatile Autonomous Kilowatt-Class Reactor Experiment project, called VALKRE, along with NASA. The program advances development of kilowatt-class nuclear reactor technology for use on Earth and in space. 

"Project VALKRE directly supports [President Donald J. Trump's] national initiative for American space nuclear power, advancing space nuclear technologies as a national priority," he said. 

More Energy To and From Space 

"We're no longer treating space assets as static, disposable systems," Marks said. "We're building a dynamic, maneuvering orbital force. This requires space logistics and in-space refueling." 

Two technologies on display at the energy expo for providing power to space and from space include the Navy's Assured Space Power Initiative and its limitless power from space exhibit, which Marks said can deliver power to the farthest reaches of Earth. 

"By transmitting energy [wirelessly] across vast distances from space to space, space to ground [and] ground to ground, we can resupply remote sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles and isolated units," he said.  

Asserting Energy Superiority 

"If a commander on the ground does not have real-time, energy-informed decision-making capabilities, they are operating blind," Marks said. 

Tactical microgrids, vehicle-centric power systems and fast-forming microgrids, he noted, can keep operating, even when supply chains are disrupted.  

"At the installation level, we're pairing these microgrids with long-duration energy storage and ironclad cyber hardening," Marks said. "We're ensuring that our bases can stand alone and fight through any cyberattack or physical disruption." 

A Better Customer 

The War Department must do a better job of being a customer to ensure the best technology developed in the private sector can get through the "valley of death" — a difficult period in technology development between success in the lab and becoming a fully funded War Department acquisition program.  

The department, Marks said, is committed to bridging that valley. 

"We've aligned our innovation funding programs to act as a unified pipeline," he said, citing the Operational Energy Capital Improvement Fund, the Operational Energy Prototyping Fund, the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program, and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program as examples. 

"These programs ensure that energy innovation reaches the warfighter," Marks said. "It goes to the warfighter, whether the need is at the point of action or at the base that sustains it." 

The War Department must focus its limited funds on technologies that actually matter to the warfighter, he added. 

"As we streamline this process, we must hold ourselves accountable to an uncompromising standard," he said. "We're not funding science projects for their own sake. Every dollar we spend must go to the warfighter. Whenever a new technology is presented, I don't ask for a list of its theoretical capabilities; I only ask one simple question: 'Will we deploy with this?'" 

If a capability cannot be deployed, is too difficult for a soldier to use, or is too dependent on a supply chain that might not always be there, he said, then resources might need to be redirected to something the warfighter can use. 

"We're putting warfighters first," Marks said. "We're integrating our operators into the deployment process from Day 1. We're integrating our operators in development, and this is not a one-way street. This is a conversation we must have together: innovators, industry and operators."

Air Force, Japan Exercise Tsunami Evacuation Procedures

Sept. 21, 2026 | By Air Force Senior Airman James Johnson, 18th Wing |

Members of the Air Force's 18th Wing and local government officials in Okinawa, Japan, conducted a joint tsunami evacuation drill across Kadena Air Base, Sept. 19, 2026.  

Nearly 100 residents of the coastal town of Chatan traveled through the base to practice moving to higher ground under simulated disaster conditions.

Executing the exercise for the third consecutive year required close coordination among several installation agencies. The 18th Wing Command Post sent out the initial emergency alert, followed by the 18th Security Forces Squadron escorting participants across the base. 

While Chatan's shoreline faces exposure to coastal hazards, routine exercises help teams streamline entry procedures, ensuring residents can reach higher ground without delay. 

"I am deeply grateful that the training and coordination we have conducted together on a regular basis help us respond effectively when an actual emergency occurs," said Mayor Masashi Toguchi. 

The real-world importance of the training was underscored in June, when a tsunami advisory was issued, prompting base personnel to quickly open the gates so residents could evacuate to a safer location.

"This is more than just a drill or practice; it is an opportunity to prepare for the potential of having to save lives," said Air Force Col. Byron Buzan, 18th Mission Support Group commander. "We have seen the importance of practicing for this scenario firsthand." 

Situated directly between the coast and Kadena Air Base, Chatan relies on long-standing mutual-assistance protocols that allow civilians to access base gates when low-lying coastal areas become unsafe. 

With every exercise, Kadena Air Base and Chatan continue to refine their coordination and eliminate potential delays, demonstrating a shared commitment to community safety and emergency readiness that grows stronger each year.

Department of War Publishes Sixth Release of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Files on WAR.GOV/UFO

Sept. 18, 2026 |

Statement Attributable to Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs and Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell:

Today, the Department of War is publishing the sixth release of declassified and historical Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) files as part of the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE). The collection continues to be housed on WAR.GOV/UFO, and the Department will release additional files on a rolling basis.

The Department of War and our agency partners are actively working on the next release of UAP files. The sixth release of UAP files is available now on WAR.GOV/UFO.

Statement by Chief Pentagon Spokesman, Sean Parnell, on the Clinical Guidance for Testosterone Deficiency in the Male Service Member

Sept. 17, 2026 |

The Department remains focused on building and maintaining a ready, lethal fighting force prepared to dominate the battlefield and achieve peace through strength.

In his July 15, 2026, memorandum, "Health and Human Performance Optimization to Enhance Military Readiness," the Secretary of War directed mandatory testosterone deficiency screenings for all Service members aged 30 and older during their Periodic Health Assessments, with optional screenings available for warfighters under the age of 30.

Consistent with this memorandum, on September 17, 2026, the Director of the Defense Health Agency issued comprehensive clinical guidance to the Military Departments and medical care providers. Effective immediately, this guidance addresses male testosterone deficiency, establishing uniform screening and treatment pathways across the DHA enterprise and assigning responsibility for compliance.

By proactively identifying and treating suboptimal hormone levels, the Department continues to invest in the health of its warfighters, strengthen their performance, and maximize force readiness.

The "Clinical Practice Guideline: Testosterone Deficiency in the Male Service Member" memorandum can be found here, the "Health and Human Performance Optimization to Enhance Military Readiness" memorandum can be found here, and the "Warfighter Performance Optimization – Total Force Fitness" memorandum can be found here.

Defense Health Agency issued clinical guidance can be found here https://www.dha.mil/HHPO