Four DARPA RACER autonomous ground vehicles hunted a target flagged in satellite imagery on Oct. 15, with one scouting ahead and two moving up in support before a simulated strike about 300 yards out. Every engagement required a human operator’s approval. U.S. European Command requested the test, and a second round with soldiers is planned for December.

Colorado ONE Fund, the venture arm of ONE Funds, made a seed investment of undisclosed size in veteran-founded Code19 Autonomy. The money backs Maveric AI, autonomy software for fast-moving systems whose first job is intercepting maneuvering airborne threats, and the Maveric Interceptor built on it. Disclosure: Autonomy Wire’s publisher is a Code19 co-founder.

An Oct. 21 open letter from Project Agincourt leads Owen West and Senior Chief Max Strasiser lays out plans for AUTOWARCOM, a four-star command to be stood up by Oct. 1, 2027. The model pushes buying decisions toward operational units, lets each theater build its own mix of drones and robots, and keeps or drops systems based on competitions, exercises and combat results.

Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy said two requests for information are coming soon, one for commercial cislunar technology and one for AI software to run autonomous spacecraft, with fielding targeted by the end of fiscal 2029. The push is driven largely by concern over Chinese activity between Earth and the Moon.

Textron Systems launched CoreMotion, a control package that turns autonomy software commands into steering, braking and power functions on new or existing ground vehicles. It is already installed on the company’s RIPSAW family, and the pitch is fewer purpose-built robots for every autonomy upgrade.

A modified 368-ton former U.S. Navy vessel ran a 3.5-hour demonstration of autonomous navigation, mid-mission changes and simulated engine failures in front of about 40 U.S. and South Korean officials. HD Hyundai calls it the first such test by a South Korean company in U.S. waters and plans to pursue U.S. Navy programs with the technology.

In an early-October test, a Raptor pilot sent high-level tactical commands that the Fury’s autonomy software turned into dynamic maneuvers and simulated combat tasks. The Air Force plans to pair CCAs first with the F-22 as Increment 1 heads toward production, under a revised goal of 500 aircraft by 2032.

New formations include a fires battery and watercraft company in I Corps, an armored reconnaissance company in III Corps, a breaching company in V Corps, and aerial reconnaissance and lift companies in XVIII Airborne Corps. Fort Rucker becomes the UAS Autonomy Center of Excellence, and an official said about one in five recent robot test missions ended in an emergency stop.

An Oct. 1 memo from Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle directs the creation of the Army Futures and Autonomous Systems Command and a dedicated office to buy priority autonomous systems, with fielding targeted for fiscal 2028. Leadership, location and a start date have not been announced.

During Bayonet Quest 26, held Sept. 26 to Oct. 6, the Army recovered a drone aboard a moving Mk VI and had the crewed boat lead a formation of uncrewed surface vessels. The service has not released a full list of systems used; the exercise is framed as practice for Pacific littoral reconnaissance.

High-altitude payload maker Aventra raised $17.5 million led by Konvoy Ventures, spacecraft developer Fortastra closed a $30 million Series A led by First In, and military logistics software firm Gallatin AI raised a $50 million Series A. Booz Allen’s venture arm and RTX Ventures were among the other investors.

Defense Daily reports that AI readiness for fighter missions is looming as a significant challenge for the Air Force’s CCA program. Ongoing testing is showing the service what mission autonomy can and cannot yet do alongside crewed fighters.

The company-funded aircraft taxied, took off, maneuvered and landed without a pilot at Mojave Air and Space Port, with the flight announced Oct. 3. Northrop says the redesign uses about half as many parts and is roughly 1,000 pounds lighter, though there is no announced Air Force production commitment.

Space Systems Command awarded GHOST-R prototype contracts on Sept. 18 for spacecraft that will take high-resolution images of objects in geosynchronous orbit. Northrop will build on its ESPASat-L spacecraft and True Anomaly will supply its Jackal vehicle, with launches planned by 2028; contract values were not disclosed.

Seven firms, including DroneShield and L3Harris WESCAM, received $500 million awards, with smaller awards to Echodyne, PVP Advanced EO Systems and SmartShooter; only about $50 million was obligated up front. Army officials say total counter-drone awards now top $5 billion, and the ceiling could reach $7 billion.

The Low Cost ISR Challenge seeks mass-producible surveillance aircraft with roughly 3-to-12-hour and 12-plus-hour endurance that can operate without established airfields. Two fly-offs are planned, and up to $250 million more is budgeted for follow-on development and production, though that money is not guaranteed.