--- title: "Army tests autonomous robots that hunt enemy targets" description: "In a glimpse of sci-fi warfare, the Army tested autonomous robots that can hunt enemy targets and coordinate attacks at Fort Knox." date: "2026-10-27" modified: "2026-10-27" authors: - name: "Austin Campbell" job_title: "Contributing reporter" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/austin-campbell.md" - name: "Nicholas Slayton" job_title: "Contributing Editor" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/nicholas-slayton.md" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-scifi-warfare-fort-knox/" categories: - "Aircraft" - "Army" - "Drones" - "Military Branches" - "News" - "Tech & Tactics" --- # Army tests autonomous robots that hunt enemy targets ![An operator supervises four autonomous ground vehicles as they carry sensing, kinetic, and non-kinetic payloads in a proof-of-concept experiment demonstrating multi-domain autonomous operations.]() *An operator supervises four autonomous ground vehicles as they carry sensing, kinetic, and non-kinetic payloads in a proof-of-concept experiment demonstrating multi-domain autonomous operations. Photo by Eric Pilgrim.* Four robotic vehicles were sent hunting for enemy targets during a military demonstration at Fort Knox, Kentucky, recently, but only one initially moved. Guided by satellite imagery, the unmanned vehicle climbed a hill, scanning the surrounding terrain while the other three waited behind. Halfway up, it spotted a potential target and abruptly stopped. Two other robotic vehicles advanced to provide support before a simulated rocket strike hit a target roughly 300 yards away. Autonomous off-road vehicles capable of hunting enemy targets might sound like something out of the "Terminator" franchise, but the Oct. 15 demonstration offered a glimpse of how the technology could work on a modern battlefield. The four experimental vehicles were developed under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's RACER program, which aims to give unmanned ground vehicles the ability to navigate difficult terrain without human drivers. The system used satellite images to help locate potential targets, while a human operator could review what the vehicles found and decide whether to launch an explosive drone at them. The [drone ]()demonstration was conducted in response to a request from U.S. European Command, which wanted to explore whether autonomous vehicles could operate ahead of American troops to locate potential enemy forces without putting soldiers directly in harm's way. Fort Knox was selected in part because its terrain could simulate conditions American forces might encounter in Europe. “We looked at how a unit could deploy these types of autonomous capabilities in a theater like EUCOM to discover potential operational value and relevant technical challenges.” Dr. Jason Gregory, DARPA's deputy program manager, told Task & Purpose. ![Dr. Jason Gregory, technical advisor at DARPA, works at the final details of a live fire exercise at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Oct. 15, 2026 featuring four autonomous unmanned ground vehicles that independently travel across St. Vith Range, hunting for enemy targets.]() *Dr. Jason Gregory, technical advisor at DARPA, at a live-fire exercise at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Oct. 15, 2026, featuring four autonomous unmanned ground vehicles that independently travel across St. Vith Range, hunting for simulated enemy targets. Photo by Eric Pilgrim.* The technology remains experimental, but DARPA hopes other Pentagon programs will build on the demonstration to develop systems that could eventually be used in combat. “We showed what's possible,” Gregory said. According to DARPA, the system was designed to comply with Defense Department policy requiring human oversight of decisions to use lethal force. The Fort Knox demonstration comes as the [Army]() is testing an expanded range of unmanned vehicles designed to take on dangerous battlefield missions, from [delivering supplies and evacuating wounded troops to]() locating enemy forces and supporting attacks. Earlier this year, an [Army solicitation highlighted the dangers of the “last tactical mile,”]() the final stretch of a journey to troops on the front lines, describing it as “often the most dangerous and logistically complex.” While the technologies serve different purposes, they reflect a growing effort to expand what unmanned systems can accomplish on the battlefield while reducing the number of American service members exposed to danger. ## Author Austin Campbell is an investigative reporter covering the U.S. military, national security, foreign policy and federal accountability. His reporting has uncovered previously unreleased military death data, documented nearly $1.8 million in questionable Air Force procurement spending, and exposed institutional failures across the military and federal government. His investigations have been cited multiple times by members of Congress and prompted congressional oversight of federal agencies. His work has appeared in The Intercept, Military.com, and Responsible Statecraft. A former U.S. Air Force aircraft armament specialist, Campbell holds a master's degree from UNC Chapel Hill's Hussman School of Journalism and Media. ## More - [Robot warships are here. Now the Navy needs to figure out how to use them.]() - [DARPA’s combat drone buggy completes first round of off-road testing]() - [The Army’s Self-Flying Black Hawk Helicopter Is One Step Closer To Reality]() - [The Army’s next robot will know when you’re talking trash to it — and know when to talk back]() - [The Air Force wants to use autonomous drones to Uber downed pilots to safety]() - [Robot dogs are taking over the US military]() - [Marine Corps Sends Robotic Mule To The Glue Factory]() - [The Army is testing drones that can deliver life-saving blood to the battlefield]()