U.S. Army tests FireAnt anti-tank ground robot to detect and neutralize armored vehicles.

The U.S. Army conducted a multi-day field test of the FireAnt robotic anti-tank system at the Innovation Proving Ground in Bryan, Texas. The trial assessed how coordinated unmanned ground robots could locate, track, and disrupt armored vehicles in contested terrain.

From October 27 to 29, 2025, the U.S. Army’s Transformation and Training Command conducted a focused field test of the FireAnt anti-tank ground robot during the xTechOverwatch for Unmanned Systems event in Bryan, Texas, evaluating the platform's performance under realistic conditions. Officials said the test focused on swarm-enabled behaviors, target-tracking accuracy, and how autonomous ground units might support small Army formations facing armored threats.
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The FireAnt unmanned ground vehicle, developed by Swarmbotics AI, was demonstrated over rugged terrain during live field trials conducted by the U.S. Army in Texas. Designed for autonomous anti-tank operations, the compact UGV can swarm with others to detect, track, and engage armored threats using low-cost precision payloads. (Picture source: Social Network)

Compact, mobile, and combat-adaptable, the FireAnt unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) is built for high-risk, front-line operations where the survivability of human operators cannot be guaranteed. Weighing less than 90 kilograms (198 pounds) and measuring just over 1 meter (3.3 feet) in length, it is small enough to be carried and deployed by a two-person fire team or air-dropped by rotary-wing platforms and UAVs. Its low-silhouette tracked chassis is powered by a hybrid-electric drive, granting the FireAnt high mobility in varied terrain and a minimal thermal signature.

Engineered to be attritable yet lethal, the FireAnt’s modular payload bay supports a range of anti-armor armaments, including loitering munitions, explosively formed penetrator (EFP) devices, and a lightweight recoilless rifle system equivalent to the U.S. M72 LAW, optimized for side and rear armor penetration. During trials, the platform demonstrated autonomous movement through dense terrain, acquisition of target profiles via onboard sensors, and synchronized mock engagements against simulated armored targets.

Each FireAnt carries a multispectral sensor package that includes infrared, electro-optical, and laser rangefinding systems. These are integrated into a neural processing unit capable of running onboard computer vision algorithms trained on real-world vehicle signatures. This enables real-time threat classification and dynamic targeting even in cluttered environments. The UGV also includes inertial navigation and GPS redundancy to ensure accurate positioning in GPS-degraded zones—critical in peer conflict scenarios.

Perhaps its most significant tactical feature is its swarming capability. A single operator can command a formation of six to eight FireAnts via a secure touchscreen interface. The swarm operates as a decentralized mesh network with peer-to-peer communication, maintaining coordinated spacing, fields of fire, and engagement prioritization while allowing rapid adaptation to new threats or terrain changes.

FireAnt’s role extends beyond simply destroying tanks. It is designed to act as a force multiplier—penetrating contested zones ahead of manned units, drawing fire from enemy positions, and channeling armor into kill zones where precision-guided weapons or loitering munitions can be deployed with maximum effect.

Swarmbotics AI is currently integrating a “sensor-to-shooter” protocol that allows FireAnts to act as spotters for overhead loitering drones or indirect fires, effectively turning the swarm into a mobile targeting array. Future variants are expected to support multi-domain integration with airborne and maritime unmanned systems under the U.S. Army’s broader Project Convergence framework.

The new anti-tank robotic system is being positioned as a scalable solution for high-intensity conflicts where traditional armored dominance is increasingly threatened by cost-effective precision fires and autonomous systems. With its projected production cost below $50,000 per unit, the FireAnt offers a new operational model: outnumbering and overwhelming enemy armor with coordinated, intelligent machines.

This development aligns with the Pentagon’s push for mass-produced, smart, and expendable platforms under the Replicator initiative, which seeks to saturate the battlefield with autonomous systems capable of operating under human command with enhanced autonomy. The FireAnt’s battlefield logic fits seamlessly into this vision, giving U.S. ground forces the means to deny armor-heavy adversaries freedom of movement without costly tank-on-tank duels.

Swarmbotics AI has confirmed that additional field evaluations are scheduled for early 2026, including live-fire trials with integrated kinetic payloads and cross-domain coordination with unmanned aerial systems. While still in prototype phase, the FireAnt is now one of the most closely watched platforms within the Army’s unmanned modernization pipeline and could serve as the foundation for a new generation of robotic combat vehicles in the next decade.

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.