U.S. Army tests urban assault with drones and AI in desert mock battle
Around 10,000 troops at Fort Irwin conducted a simulated city fight, using Bradley vehicles, drones and the prototype NGC2 network to evaluate new combat technology.
At Fort Irwin in California, the U.S. Army gathered nearly 10,000 personnel for Project Convergence Capstone, a large-scale drill that combined conventional urban combat with emerging technologies. Troops stormed the mock city of Razish, confronting barbed wire, cars and concrete barriers while Bradley Fighting Vehicles advanced on the horizon. Early in the operation, Blackhorse drones and a Black Widow quadcopter scouted the area, extending visibility up to four kilometers.
Inside the city, soldiers relied on the prototype Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) system, a AI-enabled network displayed on chest-mounted devices, though connectivity issues sometimes rendered it unusable. A ground robot, the NOMAD, operated outside the city but saw no action during the assault. Commanders emphasized that testing both effective tools and shortcomings is essential for future warfighting, noting that traditional infantry-vehicle coordination remains vital despite the tech infusion.
Why it matters
The drill shows how the U.S. Army is integrating drones and AI into combat while still relying on proven tactics.
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