In fiscal year 2026, the Army will run three pilots of the Robotic Autonomous Systems Leader Tactics Course at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Part of the Army’s transformation efforts, the course seeks to prepare mid-grade officers and NCOs to lead formations with integrated autonomous and robotic systems. The U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence launched the first pilot course Feb. 10, the service announced. Each pilot will be three weeks long and run five days a week.

Robotic and autonomous systems will play a key role on the future battlefield, so this training is critical for young leaders, said Lt. Col. Alan Hastings, commander of 3rd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment, the unit overseeing the training.

The goal is for the course is “to provide a touch point within an officer or NCO’s professional military education timeline where they are exposed to this subject matter and they develop a foundation for building proficiency and expertise in planning tactical operations, combining arms with these new capabilities,” Hastings said in an Army news release.

Course director Capt. Alison Darby said the training is intended for officers from first lieutenant to major and NCOs who are sergeants first class and above. Eligible NCOs should be graduates of the Scout Leader Course or Battle Staff NCO Course, while officers should be Maneuver Captain’s Career Course graduates.

“We’re looking for leaders [who] are returning to the operational force where there is likely to be one of these robotics and autonomous systems formations integrated at the company, battalion or brigade level,” Darby said, according to the release.

This is the latest in a series of Army training innovations as the proliferation of new technologies increases warfighting complexity. Earlier this year, a 10-hour familiarization course in small unmanned aircraft systems was established for soldiers participating in One-Station Unit Training at Fort Benning.

The Robotic Autonomous Systems Leader Tactics Course begins with discussions to enhance students’ understanding of various types of autonomous systems and unmanned ground vehicles. The first week will end with a cognitive exercise where, from a company commander’s perspective, students will develop a plan within a mobile brigade combat team with autonomous and unmanned assets attached.

Leaders will be tested on their ability execute their plan, with the course instructor “acting as a thinking, adaptive enemy,” Darby said, according to the release.

During the second week, course participants will analyze the capabilities of small unmanned aircraft systems while learning about electromagnetic spectrum management and the impact of terrain and weather. They will finish the week with a defensive tactical decision exercise, where students assume the role of an armor company commander with robotics systems attached to their combined arms formation.

In week three, students will discuss leadership, ethics and other general considerations of robotic and autonomous systems. A final tactical decision exercise will require participants to enable an offensive maneuver utilizing robotic and autonomous systems.

“Graduates of this course should be able to understand the capabilities and limitations of several types of robotic and autonomous systems that are already being implemented in the force or are a proposed idea to add into the force,” Darby said, according to the release. “Whatever unit they go to, students will have the capability and understanding of how to plan and utilize these systems to enable the maneuver formations.”