ULTRA’s testing process notably involved iterative “break and fix” cycles to refine the system, underscoring the Army’s commitment to practical innovation.
In an era where modern warfare increasingly relies on unmanned systems to minimize human risk and enhance operational efficiency, the United States Army’s introduction of the ULTRA prototype marks a significant advancement in the race for drone dominance.
Developed by Overland AI, a Seattle-based company specializing in ground autonomy for defense applications, ULTRA—formally the “Overland AI Fully Autonomous Tactical Vehicle”—is an uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) designed to perform tactical operations in contested environments without a driver, remote operator, or even Global Positioning System (GPS) support.
ULTRA’s prototype represents a shift toward attritable, modular systems that can be deployed at scale,potentially transforming how supplies are delivered, reconnaissance is conducted, and threats are countered on the battlefield.
As tested by the United States Army in recent exercises, ULTRA embodies the military’s push for innovation, aiming to save soldiers’ lives, reduce costs, and improve logistical resilience in high-threat scenarios.
The Story of Overland AI
Overland AI was founded with the singular mission to equip armed forces with reliable autonomy solutions capable of navigating harsh terrains and brutal conditions, thereby increasing ground power while preserving human lives.
The company’s core technologies include the OverDrive autonomy stack, Overwatch, and SPARK, which collectively enable vehicles like ULTRA to operate autonomously in off-road settings and GPS-denied environments. OverDrive in particular empowers ground vehicles with unparalleled mobility and tactical maneuverability, allowing them to execute missions beyond line of sight without human intervention.
ULTRA’s development stems from the need to address longstanding challenges in military logistics, such as exposing personnel to enemy fire during resupply missions. Traditional crewed vehicles are expensive and require protective measures for operators, limiting their scalability in prolonged conflicts. By contrast, ULTRA is designed as an attritable platform, affordable enough to be expendable if necessary; it costs an order of magnitude less than conventional combat vehicles, to say nothing of the lives saved by keeping human soldiers out of harm’s way.
The aptly named Byron Boots, cofounder and CEO of Overland AI, told the US Army’s website that the ULTRA prototype represents a true paradigm shift. “Uncrewed systems are radically changing the character of war. We are developing autonomous vehicles like ULTRA to provide safety by taking the warfighter out of harm’s way,” he said.
The ULTRA Drone’s Specifications
ULTRA’s prototype has been refined through field testing and warfighter feedback, ensuring it meets real-world demands. Currently in production, ULTRA is positioned as a revolutionary tool for the battlefield, with Overland AI inviting orders for deployment.
At its core, ULTRA is a rugged, all-wheel-drive off-road vehicle engineered for extreme mobility and versatility. It features large tires, long-travel suspension, and steep approach and departure angles, enabling it to traverse challenging terrains such as mud, sand, snow, and brush with ease.
The vehicle boasts all-weather performance and extends operational endurance, making it suitable for prolonged missions in adverse conditions. Its modular design includes an adaptable deck with L-track mounting points, vertical hitch receivers, shackles, and side rails, allowing for rapid reconfiguration to accommodate mission-specific payloads.
- Year Introduced: Not introduced (prototype phase)
- Number Built: Unknown
- Length: 155” (12 ft 11 in)
- Width: 48” (4 ft)
- Total weight, battle ready: 3,500 lbs
- Engine: Indigenous 999cc engine; 114 hp
- Armament: None; NATO 24v connector, 1 kw available power
- Top speed: 35 mph
- Range: 100 miles (at 20 mph)
- Crew: 0
Source: Overland AI.
The ULTRA drone comes equipped with special systems, including advanced cameras and sensors that enable real-time terrain detection, allowing it to adjust its path autonomously and avoid obstacles. Crucially, ULTRA’s sensor suite is not dependent on GPS.
The Army’s evaluation of ULTRA culminated in a high-stakes demonstration during Exercise Agile Spirit 25 on July 2, 2025, at the Vaziani Training Area in Georgia. This biennial multinational exercise, now in its 12th iteration, focuses on enhancing readiness, interoperability, and stability in the Black Sea region.
Soldiers from the First Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, integrated ULTRA into resupply operations for 60mm and 120mm mortar units. During the exercise, ULTRA demonstrated its autonomous resupply capabilities, delivering mortar rounds without human intervention and navigating terrain changes effectively. Adam Ungar, senior program manager at Overland AI, highlighted the goal in his interview with the US Army for their official website: “We’re trying to keep soldiers off the frontlines and keep our warfighters safe.” This jibes with the overall push around the world for greater autonomous vehicles meant to reduce the burden and risk to troops.
The Iterative Testing Process
ULTRA’s testing process notably involved iterative “break and fix” cycles to refine the system, underscoring the Army’s commitment to practical innovation.
A forward-thinking concept, this unique capability will need to be constantly refined by the Army as it experiments with creating a more autonomous ground force to fight future wars. Widespread adoption, for example, could lead to a fundamentally transformed, less human-centric force.
This would be great for reducing risk to personnel. But it would also raise troubling questions of moral hazard. If political leaders knew that their constituents would be less negatively impacted by possible wars, would they be more willing to start them, so long as robots were doing the bulk of the fighting and dying?
Still, the Army is right to focus on developing these capabilities, because this is where warfare is moving. The last thing America wants is to be left behind as our adversaries develop more advanced and more effective unmanned systems that can defeat US conventional forces. The Army’s experimentation signals a broader trend toward human-machine teaming, potentially reshaping doctrines for supply chains, evacuations, and counter-drone operations in peer conflicts.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics and has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, The Asia Times, and others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image courtesy of Overland AI.
