By Emily White, Army FUZE 

Vilseck, Germany – In early March, innovators, Soldiers, and Army leaders gathered at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria in Vilseck, Germany for the highly anticipated xTech|Edge Strike: Ground Finals. This dynamic event combined cutting-edge science and technology with boots-on-the-ground operational realism, showcasing the U.S. Army’s unwavering commitment to fostering innovation and delivering transformative capabilities to the tactical edge. 

A collaboration between the Army FUZE xTech Program and the Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD), this competition highlighted the power of the Army’s Pathway for Innovation and Technology (PIT), an agile framework designed to fast-track solutions from concept to deployment. “These events are a trifecta of learning and a trifecta of benefits for all involved,” said COL Daiyaan, Director of the Army Pathway for Innovation and Technology (PIT). “The vendors get to learn what it really means to go from their labs, their backyard, to the real dirt. The Soldiers get to share their lessons learned and show how we really fight, and they get to shape the Army’s capabilities and modernization. And we as an enterprise…get to learn what works, what doesn’t work, who is responsive, what is going to be the next piece of kit that we throw into the box.” 

Empowering Innovation through Collaboration 

The xTech|Edge Strike: Ground competition is the latest evolution of the Army’s xTech program, renowned for connecting entrepreneurs and tech startups with the Army to accelerate innovation. With G-TEAD serving as a critical partner, this iteration focused on equipping warfighters with next-level capabilities for mobile, expeditionary operations, particularly in austere environments where traditional support structures may be limited. 

Participants spanned a wide spectrum, from small tech startups to established companies, all eager to showcase game-changing technologies. The finals event brought these technologies to the rugged training grounds in Vilseck, where innovators had the unique opportunity to get “in the dirt” alongside Soldiers. This level of real-world interaction sets xTech|Edge Strike: Ground apart, giving participants an unparalleled glimpse into how their innovations perform under operational pressures and environmental challenges. 

For the participants, the collaborative environment was a key takeaway. “When it comes to the military, we all are on the same team, we are all trying to serve the warfighter,” said Alexander Bouchard of Mountain Horse Solutions. “It was really cool to have all these different companies work together.” 

The Soldier-Centered Approach 

At the heart of xTech|Edge Strike: Ground is the belief that innovation must solve real problems facing Soldiers on the battlefield. “There is no feedback like the feedback of a Soldier,” stated Jaime Wilson, xTech Innvation Lead. “That is the most important and critical feedback…Who better to tell us what will work for their mission than Soldiers?” 

Participating companies were tasked with developing solutions capable of advancing situational awareness, modernizing communication networks, enhancing autonomous systems, or increasing mobility for small units operating on the tactical edge. These solutions weren’t just talked about; they were rigorously tested in mission scenarios orchestrated by the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. Soldiers engaged hands-on with prototypes, offering direct input on performance, usability, and adaptability. 

“I enjoy the fact that they gave us the opportunity to be in touch with the actual vendor to understand the employment of each different company’s [Unmanned Ground Vehicle] UGV specifically and the objective is to see if each UGV can produce what we are looking for,” commented Spc. Johnson Seri, an Infantryman with the 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment. “Can it carry an injured Soldier? Can it carry supplies? A weapons system?…We give our input and they know exactly what we want and that’s very important.” 

For innovators, this feedback is priceless. “We love the Soldier feedback. It’s invaluable to us,” said Anna Hahn of AZAK. “We are building for the warfighter. We want to have capabilities that are helpful to them and will hopefully save lives. That’s what we build for and to get that feedback is amazing.” 

Announcing the Winners 

The journey to the Ground Finals was highly competitive. Following the competition’s launch, 145 white papers were submitted for consideration. From that initial pool, the field was down-selected to 17 finalists. Of those, 15 companies traveled to Germany for the hands-on Soldier exercise, and 13 were able to test their technology in the field. 

After a rigorous evaluation where groundbreaking technologies impressed both Soldiers and evaluators, five companies were selected as winners. Each of the following winners was awarded a $275,000 non-dilutive cash prize, a testimony to the Army’s commitment to empowering innovation that directly enhances mission readiness: 

• ASAX Innovation 
• AZAK 
• GaardTech USA 
• Milrem Robotics 
• Mountain Horse Solutions 

The Army’s Pathway for Innovation and Technology 

xTech|Edge Strike: Ground is a prime example of how the Army PIT is transforming the way ideas become usable capabilities for Soldiers. This approach eliminates traditional barriers that have slowed adoption in the past, enabling rapid prototyping, Soldier input, and agile acquisition practices. 

“What we, the Army, is focused on more than ever is the Soldier’s voice and getting that technology into the dirt and showing that it will actually do what Soldiers need it to do,” Wilson added. 

Underpinning this success is the Army’s collaboration powered by the PIT to drive faster and more responsive acquisition processes for tactical edge solutions. “By [Army FUZE xTech] partnering with G-TEAD and JIOP, we’re able to really embed in the unit and get those rapidly identified solutions that are out in the innovation ecosystem, both from the United States and around the world, so that we’re not limited to certain providers, but so that we really have access to all solutions and we can select the best one and move quickly,” explained Wilson. 

Global Partnerships for Global Challenges 

Conducting the xTech|Edge Strike: Ground Finals in Vilseck, Germany, at the home of one of the Army’s most active forward-deployed units, underscores the Army’s commitment to global challenges. The partnership with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment demonstrates the importance of embedding innovation in real-world operational environments, ensuring solutions address both current and emerging threats. 

The success of xTech|Edge Strike: Ground also highlights the value of international collaboration. Many competitors showcased technologies that could enhance interoperability with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies, a vital component of ensuring readiness in coalition defense scenarios. 

Looking Forward 

As the xTech|Edge Strike: Ground Finals concluded, one thing became clear: the PIT is not just about creating tools but transforming the entire approach to problem-solving. By empowering innovators, integrating Soldier feedback, and fast-tracking acquisitions, the Army is staying ahead of the curve in an increasingly complex and uncertain world. 

The next steps will see the selected technologies refined and deployed, ensuring they are ready to meet warfighters’ needs in a rapidly evolving operational landscape. What began as ideas in labs and garages has become a tangible future for Army operations at the tactical edge.  

For more information on Army FUZE xTech, G-TEAD, and the PIT, be sure to check out https://pit.army.mil and follow Army PIT on LinkedIn and X for the latest updates.