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US Army Integrates AI Powered Onboard Anti-Drone System into XM30 Through Duality Digital Simulation.
On April 10, 2025, Duality AI announced that it had been awarded a contract by the US Army’s XM30 Program Office to support the development of a next-generation counter-drone system. Known as the AI Target Detection and Recognition system (AiTDR), the technology is designed to provide onboard drone detection and recognition capabilities for military vehicles, with the objective of enhancing crew protection against aerial threats. The initiative is part of the broader XM30 program, which aims to replace the M2 Bradley with a new combat vehicle. It is also aligned with Project Linchpin, a Department of Defense effort to incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning into future operational capabilities.
The AiTDR counter-drone system for the XM30 combat vehicle program aiming to enhance onboard protection using AI and digital simulation (Picture source: RTX)
The AiTDR system will be developed using Falcon, Duality AI’s digital simulation platform specializing in digital twin technology. This platform enables the modeling and testing of virtual sensor systems within simulated environments. From the outset, the Army’s strategy has been to employ a digital-first approach to improve efficiency in system development. By generating high-quality synthetic data from Falcon’s virtual sensors, the Army Research Lab, in coordination with the Project Linchpin team, will be able to simulate diverse operational conditions, including variations in vehicle speed, weather, drone type, and terrain. These data sets will be used to train and refine AI models within a wide range of combat-relevant scenarios.
The initial phase of the project focuses on building an AI model that functions within Falcon’s simulation environment. This allows the teams to observe how the AiTDR system reacts to drone threats while adjusting multiple parameters. A second phase will involve the iterative optimization of both the AI algorithm and the simulation methodologies. Engineers from Duality AI and the XM30 program will collaborate to enhance model accuracy and operational relevance. As the project advances, the Army will also explore how digital twin technology can be scaled to meet other requirements for AI and machine learning training across defense applications.
According to Michael Taylor, Duality AI’s Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, Falcon offers the Army complete control over simulation environments, enabling more rigorous training and testing of detection models before physical hardware is available. This capability is expected to reduce the disparity often observed between controlled test results and outcomes in real-world operational settings. The use of digital twin simulation also supports efforts to shorten development timelines and reduce costs associated with field deployment.
This contract marks another step in the Army’s transition to digital engineering practices. In June 2024, Jennifer Swanson, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Data, Engineering & Software, described digital engineering as the “linchpin” of the Army’s broader digital transformation strategy. The selection of Duality AI—an actor outside the traditional defense vehicle supplier ecosystem—further illustrates the Department of Defense’s shift toward engaging non-traditional technology partners in support of next-generation military platforms.
Compared to conventional counter-drone systems, AiTDR offers multiple technical advantages. The use of synthetic data allows for the robust and scalable training of AI models without being constrained by the availability of real-world datasets. The Falcon platform also enables pre-deployment testing across a wide spectrum of operating conditions, helping to anticipate system behavior in complex or unexpected scenarios. This includes detecting drones with low signatures or those operating in swarms, a capability increasingly critical in today’s battlefield environments.
The AiTDR system’s modular and scalable architecture supports integration across various vehicle types, offering flexibility for deployment in different operational theaters. Unlike some embedded C-UAS systems that require hardware upgrades to adapt to evolving threats, AiTDR allows for software-based updates, which can be validated directly within the Falcon simulation environment. This accelerates the response cycle while maintaining technical reliability.
Sensor placement is also optimized through simulation, ensuring maximum coverage, reduced blind spots, and minimized false positives. The system is designed to operate autonomously or in conjunction with other onboard systems, including electronic warfare or interception networks. Its compatibility with open architectures, such as those implemented in the XM30 program, ensures long-term adaptability to evolving mission requirements.
AiTDR represents a new generation of AI-driven onboard defense systems tailored to the rapidly evolving landscape of drone warfare. Through digital twin simulation and a digital-first engineering process, the US Army aims to improve the reliability, scalability, and readiness of its counter-UAS capabilities. This project highlights how artificial intelligence, simulation environments, and synthetic data are reshaping the development of military technologies. By partnering with Duality AI, the Army reinforces its strategy of integrating agile, adaptive solutions into future combat platforms as it prepares to face increasingly complex and dynamic threat environments.