Attendees file in during the first day of the 2026 Association of the US Army annual conference in Washington, DC, on October 12, 2026.
Vehicle-mounted counter-drone systems dominated the floor
Vehicle-mounted counter-drone systems "were out in force" across the AUSA show floor, and photos from the final day underline that emphasis. Parker Hannifin showcased components onboard the MDH Strategic Services Airwolf c-UAS system fixed atop an RCR 6WAP vehicle. Leonardo DRS displayed a VIKING Uncrewed Ground Vehicle equipped for air defense missions, while GM Defense's Autonomous ISV-Utility was presented as configurable to carry counter-drone systems alongside other payloads. AeroVironment marketed the Freedom Eagle-1 as a low-cost kinetic counter-UAV munition and a "long-range kinetic interceptor missile," and Diehl Defense showed the Cicada, an electrically propelled counter-drone munition that can feature either a fragmentation warhead or a safety net.
Kinetic interceptors, munitions and launcher systems on display
The trade show highlighted a range of kinetic options for air defense and firepower. Sierra Nevada's Brawlr (Battery Revolving Advanced Weapons Launcher Reconfigurable) was on display, with a close-up photo of a Brawlr munition. RTX presented the Javelin anti-tank guided munition alongside a fully-kitted soldier display, and its DeepFires autonomous launcher — described as an all-terrain, all-weather system transportable via C-130 cargo planes — appeared on the floor. Hanwha Defense USA displayed 155 mm artillery shells and a range of scale-model armor and artillery systems. BAE Systems exhibited both a Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System and an AMPV-30 (Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle).
Audit-ready is a season. It shouldn't be.
Evidence in spreadsheets, controls drifting between audits, frameworks multiplying on flat headcount. Nubivance runs continuous compliance on Rapid7 Cyber GRC - SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001, PCI, CMMC.
End the scrambleUncrewed systems spanned air, ground and sea
The show was heavy on unmanned offerings. AeroVironment suspended its all-electric, single-rotor VAPOR VTOL above attendees and also showed the Bullfrog M240 autonomous weapon system, which the company says has a 1,500-meter range for defense against drone groups in categories 1 through 3. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Hanwha Aerospace co-developed the Mojave short takeoff and landing (STOL) uncrewed aircraft, and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions displayed the Tactical Firejet, marketed as a low-cost drone capable of flying at 0.8 mach with a 500-nautical-mile range. On the ground and water, Tencore brought an amphibious unmanned ground vehicle called MAT1LDA carrying Tencore’s TerMIT ground robot, while OverlandAI's ULTRA autonomous ground system hosted a multi-mission hemispheric radar from Leonardo DRS. L3Harris displayed the T4 Robotic System for explosive ordnance disposal and hazardous materials clearance, and GE Aerospace exhibited a hybrid-electric turbogenerator intended for the MV-250 autonomous, hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing cargo drone.
Sensors, optics and supporting gear—surveillance to special-purpose tires
Complementing weapons and platforms, exhibitors emphasized sensing, targeting and sustainment. AEO Night Hawk Systems showed a surveillance assembly with sensors "honing in on bystanders." Leonardo DRS brought an Extended Mast Surveillance System featuring an exMHR radar on a trailer platform with an extendable mast. Teledyne Qioptiq displayed thermal weapon sights including the Phoenix-XR and the Dragon-C12 S, while Colt optics hosted a busy display of assault rifles with specialized optics. Outside the combat box, Goodyear brought an unusual "moon tire" intended for lunar exploration, underscoring how suppliers are pitching niche and dual-use capabilities.
What this means for the Ukrainian military, US defense leaders, and technologists
- Ukrainian military and firms: The Ukrainian military’s 3rd Army Corps brought a variety of small drones to the show, and Kyiv-based Stellarion displayed fiber-optic drones; Ukrainian defense firm Tencore showcased an amphibious UGV. Those presentations make clear Ukrainian forces and firms were both participants and demonstrators of niche unmanned capabilities.
- US defense leaders and procurement: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s remarks were livestreamed at Boeing's booth, and major firms from across the supply chain displayed systems transportable by C-130, hybrid-powered tactical trucks with "silent" drive modes, and interoperable sensors — all signals to procurement officials weighing mobility, sustainment and integration.
- Technologists and security teams: The mix of counter-UAV munitions (Cicada, Freedom Eagle-1), detection radars and autonomous ground systems highlights areas of rapid productization. Technology teams will be watching how kinetic and non-kinetic sensor suites are being packaged for vehicle, trailer and unmanned-platform integration.
The final day of AUSA 2026 presented a dense inventory of weapons, sensors and platforms aimed at a rapidly expanding tactical problem set: defending against drones, extending fires with transportable launchers, and delivering unmanned capabilities across land, sea and air. Which of these displays become fielded systems — and how operators combine sensors, soft-kill and hard-kill effects in real-world formations — remained a question left open on the show floor.
