The initiative aims to create a transparent and interconnected operational environment across multiple domains. It focuses on integrating emerging technologies to improve command and control across dispersed theatres.
A key demonstration of these capabilities took place during Operation Condor at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center. The exercise formed part of Combined Resolve 26-07 and was led by the 1st Cavalry Division.
The operation showcased the Army’s ability to establish forward unmanned sensing zones and fuse data at the tactical edge. It also demonstrated how shared situational awareness can be delivered across different levels of command.
“New technology presents new data problem- understanding how the data is transferred, where it goes, and how we collect it in one place and make sense of it,” said Michael E. Ziegelhofer, commander of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team. “At the end state, the data is only good if we can deliver the right information to the commander to make better and faster decisions than the enemy.”
Operation Condor tested a wave-based approach to warfare in which initial sensing drives subsequent operations. During the exercise, the 3rd Brigade acted as the main effort to demonstrate next-generation sensor fusion while maintaining its core training mission.
The brigade employed more than 400 unmanned aerial systems across multiple commands. This integration linked live operational effects directly to sensor detections, enhancing realism and operational effectiveness.
Data from acoustic, radio frequency, radar and infrared sensors was fused at the point of collection. This reduced bandwidth demands while enabling automated analytics and artificial intelligence to prioritise threats.
“We did some collective training events where we had electronic warfare capabilities out there detecting ground control stations with the drones, relaying the message where those are to someone else on the team who flies the drone over to validate the ground station is there with visual confirmation, and then call that back into the fire architecture to deliver effects and destroy that station,” Ziegelhofer added.
Commanders assessed these capabilities based on faster sensor-to-decision timelines and improved early-warning ranges. The approach also focused on reducing electromagnetic exposure to enhance survivability.
“We need to preserve the option for offensive maneuver; how do we do that when there is a transparent battlefield that’s the problem set right now,” said Michael Andrew Cryer, commander of the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment. “You can be seen at anytime, anywhere, and it’s nearly impossible to hide.”
Operational scenarios demonstrated how sensor integration improves both lethality and survivability. In one example, acoustic sensors detected enemy forces, which were then confirmed by unmanned systems before precision engagement.
Sensor data was also transmitted to higher command levels to support broader operational awareness. This enabled commanders across multiple theatres to monitor enemy activity and trends in near real time.
The exercise highlighted coordination between III Armored Corps, V Corps and industry partners. It demonstrated how integrating data before human analysis can accelerate targeting timelines.
The Army said these efforts are shaping future warfare and validating multi-domain operations doctrine. The integration of advanced technologies is intended to maintain operational superiority in large-scale combat scenarios.
