By Eleanor Kent, Army FUZE    

WASHINGTON — xTech|Soldier Fire finalists traveled to Fort Benning, GA in March 2026 to participate in a live proof-of-concept demonstration, where the Army assessed emerging fire control technologies in a Soldier-relevant environment against the Next Generation Squad Weapon fire control system, the XM157. The event brought together Soldiers, program offices, and technical experts, providing direct insight into performance, integration and how the technologies functioned in the hands of Soldiers.  

At Fort Benning, that approach was applied to fire control augmentation technologies designed to support the Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon fire control system, the XM157. Finalists — Envision Technology, LLC, OKSI, and Photon-X Inc.— presented solutions focused on aim augmentation, multi-spectral imaging, passive targeting inputs, and digitally enhanced reticle and targeting data overlays within the optic. 

Rather than assessing capability in isolation, the live demonstration placed those systems into use. Each configuration was handled, observed, and evaluated in context, providing insight into how the technologies function when paired with a fielded fire control system. 

MAJ Bart Scocco of Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier, now a part of Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) Maneuver Ground, described his focus in terms of practical application:  

“The maturity level of the technology and its applicability for integration into existing systems to enhance optics and fire control is how I was assessing today,” Scocco said.

That assessment becomes more defined when systems move from concept into use. Evaluating how technologies perform under handling and how information is presented to the Soldier provides a clearer understanding of whether a capability supports the task or introduces friction at the point of engagement. 

For industry teams, that environment directly informs how solutions are refined. 

“It’s absolutely critical to have information going direction to our engineers from Soldiers,” said Che Voight of Sonoma Aerospace & OKSI. “We’re not just designing something that technically works ‒ it has to be something the Soldier can understand, use, and provide feedback on.” 

“There’s nothing better than coming out in the field. It’s an eye-opener — it shows us where we need to be building our technology if we want to field it,” said Blair Barbour, Photon-X president and CEO. 

Translating Evaluation into Capability 

Peter Lam of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) pointed to one of the competition’s key advantages when asked how the engagement compared with other pathways he has experienced. 

“Going through the down-selection process is very helpful,” Lam said. “It gets us going after a contract faster… more fluid than what I’ve seen in the past.” 

That ability to move more quickly toward contracting reflects how xTech is structured to translate emerging technologies into field-relevant capability. By testing solutions in operational conditions and applying input that reflects how they will be used, the program generates a clearer understanding of what can be advanced and how. 

For the Army, that clarity matters. It supports faster progress from concept to capability by ensuring that development is informed by operational use and system realities — helping move viable solutions toward Soldiers with greater confidence. 

Announcing the Winner 

Following final review, the Army selected Photon-X as the xTech|Soldier Fire winner and awarded a cash prize of $100,000, with the potential for a follow-on contract or agreement up to $5 million to further develop and deliver its prototype system. 

Photon-X’s winning technology is a passive 3D shape based digital sighting system designed to enhance threat detection in degraded environments. The system leverages the company’s exclusive Spatial Phase Imaging (SPI) technology to enable 3D passive geo-location technology for small-form-factor devices. This approach supports improved target detection and identification, offering significant advantages for Soldiers in the field. 

Advancing Operationally Relevant Capability 

xTech|Soldier Fire demonstrates how evaluating technologies in operational conditions contributes to shaping solutions that can be effectively employed by Soldiers. 

By grounding development in real-world use and aligning input across the organizations responsible for advancing capability, the competition provides a clearer path for how emerging technologies can be refined and delivered to the field. 

Fueling Lethal Soldier Solutions Through xTech  

Strategic industry collaboration continues to fuel the Army’s ability to identify and accelerate next-generation technologies where they are needed most. 

xTech|Soldier Fire is the second Army FUZE xTech competition conducted in partnership with PEO Soldier, focused on advancing solutions that strengthen lethality and targeting effectiveness at the tactical edge. 

The first competition, xTech|Soldier Lethality, launched in July 2023 and recently named MARS Inc. as its final winner for its Squad Support Rifle System — a capability recognized for its potential to enhance close-combat effectiveness. That effort culminated in a live proof-of-concept demonstration where Army and Department of War experts evaluated the system’s performance in conditions relevant to operational use. 

xTech|Soldier Fire builds on that foundation, applying the same model to fire control and reinforcing an approach that places emerging technologies into environments that reflect how they are expected to perform in the field. 

About the Army FUZE xTech Program  

The Army FUZE xTech Program is the Army’s premier tool for scouting and accelerating dual-use technologies that directly enhance Soldier readiness and mission success. Through dynamic prize competitions like xTech|Search, xTech identifies breakthrough solutions and opens doors for nontraditional companies to engage with and deliver capabilities to the Army. Since its launch in 2018, xTech has awarded over $30 million in non-dilutive cash prizes across 48 competitions – fueling innovation pipelines and delivering transformative technologies that matter on the battlefield.  

Learn more at the Army PIT website: https://pit.army.mil/pathway/xtech/   

About Army FUZE   

Army FUZE is the engine driving innovation within the Army’s integrated innovation ecosystem, strategically aligned under the Army’s Pathway for Innovation and Technology (PIT). By uniting key programs such as xTech, Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer, Manufacturing Technology, and the Technology Maturation Initiative within a synchronized framework, FUZE accelerates advanced capabilities, strengthens the industrial base, and delivers readiness at the speed of relevance. Operating with a venture capitalist mindset, FUZE scouts broadly, takes calculated risks, and scales the most promising technologies, ensuring taxpayer dollars are directed toward solutions with both Army operational relevance and commercial viability. Through its alignment with PIT, FUZE underscores the Army’s commitment to fostering innovation, streamlining technology transitions, and bridging the gap between emerging technologies and critical operational needs to maintain military overmatch.  

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