AUSA 2025 Day 2: New U.S. Army Combat Vehicles - Autonomous Systems & Artillery Revealed.

Day 2 of AUSA 2025 in Washington, D.C., highlighted the U.S. Army’s accelerating shift toward autonomous combat systems, long-range precision firepower, and next-gen squad weapons. The technology surge signals a major leap in battlefield autonomy and lethality across the Army’s modernization priorities.

Washington D.C., United States, October 21, 2025 - At the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C., defense industry giants unveiled a striking lineup of next-generation land warfare systems. From autonomous combat vehicles to extended-range artillery prototypes, this year’s displays reflected a unified modernization push across Army programs. Editorial coverage from Army Recognition noted that the 2025 event feels markedly different, with technology maturity and integration taking precedence over concept demonstrations.
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Day 2 at AUSA 2025: U.S. defense industry unveils next-gen autonomous vehicles, advanced artillery systems, and future-ready squad weapons on the show floor in Washington, D.C., United States.  (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

Among the major industry disruptors making headlines this year, Oshkosh Defense commands attention with a triad of autonomous combat vehicles never before shown to the public. Making its global debut, the Extreme Multi-Mission Autonomous Missile Launcher Vehicle (X-MAV) sets a new benchmark in robotic precision firepower. Built for high-threat zones, the X-MAV is equipped with advanced AI-driven navigation and strike capabilities, integrating a high-capacity vertical launch system capable of deploying loitering munitions and surface-to-surface tactical missiles with autonomous target acquisition. The system is designed to operate independently or in coordinated swarms, giving ground commanders a toolset previously confined to science fiction.

Not far from the X-MAV, Oshkosh also introduces the Medium Multi-Mission Autonomous Vehicle (M-MAV), which blends off-road survivability with a reconfigurable mission package. The M-MAV can be outfitted for ISR, electronic warfare, or missile deployment tasks, and features a hybrid-electric propulsion system optimized for stealth and endurance in contested environments.

Rounding out the trio is the Light Multi-Mission Autonomous Vehicle (L-MAV), a compact drone-vehicle hybrid tailored for urban reconnaissance and high-speed convoy support. Its modular payload bay, drone launch interface, and compact footprint give it significant tactical flexibility for maneuver brigades operating in megacity or complex terrain operations.

In another bold unveil, V2X Defense lifts the curtain on its Tempest light fast attack vehicle, an anti-tank platform purpose-built for dispersed operations and rapid flanking. The Tempest blends high mobility with concentrated firepower, featuring a stabilized remote weapon station armed with twin Javelin launchers and a lightweight 30mm automatic cannon. Designed with low-signature materials and passive armor options, it targets peer-level mechanized threats while maintaining the speed to evade retaliatory fires. Military planners will note the vehicle’s expeditionary profile: easily air-droppable and tailored for special operations or light cavalry units.

Legacy platforms aren’t being left behind. BAE Systems surprises with an overhauled version of the M109A7 Paladin, now rearmed with a 52-caliber cannon capable of reaching targets beyond 70 kilometers. This longer barrel variant brings the U.S. Army in line with NATO counterparts and rivals in extended-range artillery, answering long-standing calls for counter-battery dominance. The new fire control architecture, integrated directly with Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) nodes, allows the howitzer to receive strike data in real-time from satellites, drones, and forward observers.

On the aviation front, Airbus U.S. reveals the MQ72C Lakota Connector, a vertical lift unmanned helicopter concept aimed at future logistics autonomy. The design proposes a high-payload, twin-rotor system optimized for rough terrain resupply, MEDEVAC, and sensor pod delivery in high-risk rear areas. Its rugged chassis and AI-based terrain navigation algorithms suggest strong adaptability for Pacific island-hopping or Arctic sustainment missions.

Small arms advancements are also drawing significant interest. In a rare collaborative exhibit, Barrett Firearms and MARS Defense pull the curtain back on a new Squad Support Rifle System that blends .338 Norma Magnum precision with 30mm grenade capability in a modular loadout. The weapon—still in early development—features an electronically actuated fire selector allowing squad leaders to switch between kinetic and explosive payloads on the fly. Designed as a lightweight suppressive system, the concept aims to replace multiple legacy systems while enhancing squad-level lethality and adaptability against peer forces in complex terrains.

Behind the show floor glitz lies a deeper narrative: this year’s AUSA reflects the accelerating convergence of autonomy, firepower, and mobility into a single warfighting ecosystem. From battlefield logistics to anti-armor strikes, the clear theme emerging is operational independence with machines that act, coordinate, and strike with minimal human input, shifting the paradigm from manned formations to networked kill webs.

For the U.S. Army and its NATO partners, the platforms unveiled at AUSA 2025 are not merely technological showcases. They represent a strategic answer to the pacing threats posed by China and Russia. As budgets tighten and readiness remains a central concern, every new piece of hardware must serve a dual role: technological edge and strategic deterrence.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.