By U.S. Army DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory Public Affairs | July 8, 2026
Read the original article published July 8, 2026 on Army.mil
ADELPHI, Md. – Three Army innovation programs, Catalyst, Pathfinder and Accelerating FORCE (Future Operational Requirements, Capabilities and Experimentation) connecting Soldiers, researchers and industry released the latest report on how they’re addressing urgent operational needs.
Managed by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, or DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory in partnership with the Civil-Military Innovation Institute and Acme General Corp., the programs are advancing the Army’s continuous transformation through rapid prototyping, field experimentation and technology transitions.
The 2025 Success Report (see full PDF below) details how these initiatives delivered production-ready concepts that directly improved battlefield survivability, mobility and communications for frontline units such as the 75th Ranger Regiment, 11th Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps and Special Operations Forces.
“These programs strengthen the Army’s adaptability in evolving operational environments by integrating Soldier-driven innovation, rapid prototyping, and close collaboration among researchers, operators and end users,” said Dr. Arwen DeCostanza, program manager for Catalyst, Pathfinder and Accelerating FORCE. “By identifying capability gaps, rapidly developing and testing concepts, and refining solutions through iterative field experimentation, we ensure that continuous end-user feedback informs capability development, system design, and operational decision-making, keeping solutions relevant in contested, multi-domain scenarios.”
Specifically, these programs are
Catalyst captures Army unit-defined challenges and warfighter feedback, enabling research partners to develop and refine solutions through the Soldier Innovation Platform.
Pathfinder works directly with Soldiers to identify operational challenges, curate Army-prioritized problem sets, and integrate academic, industry and government partners to support solution development, testing and transition.
Accelerating FORCE identifies critical Army modernization gaps and aligns emerging technologies with operational requirements to accelerate capability development and shorten the technology transition timeline.
Throughout the year, these programs designed, testing and fielding low-cost, mission-adaptable technologies, including uncrewed aerial system identification systems, beyond-line-of-sight communications and mobile drone manufacturing capabilities across multiple combat training environments.
The programs also expanded Army-wide experimentation and adoption through successful deployments, major exercise participation and transition to fiscal 2026 field testing with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Central Command, Joint Multinational Readiness Center, U.S. Army Europe and Africa, Western Hemisphere Command and Transforming in Contact units.
Now in its fifth year, the Catalyst Pathfinder program supported 13 DIRT labs in six states and two countries, including a mobile lab currently operating in Germany.
Army units from 16 states and two countries actively participated in tactical innovation efforts resulting in more than 1,800 Catalyst submissions and 26 Pathfinder-funded innovation projects in collaboration with 36 academic and small-business partners.
Overall, the programs engaged with 29 commands, corps and divisions, all focused on delivering high-impact, user-centric technologies.
Fiscal 2025 innovation highlights include:
- Enhanced MRZR Modularity: Engineers from Auburn University partnered with 75th Ranger Regiment medics and communicators to deliver modular litter and mission command integration systems for the Polaris MRZR Alpha 4. These bolt-on solutions improved casualty evacuation and communications and are now in regular use during training and real-world missions.
- UAS Handshake: In response to a critical need for rapid identification of friendly drones, the Pathfinder program partnered with North Carolina A&T and Special Forces to develop a low-cost, encrypted unmanned aerial system, or drone, transponder for friendly-force identification. Now in its fourth generation, the system provides real-time situational awareness and is being fielded for further Army-wide experimentation.
- Phantom Arctic/Tropic Variant: Pathfinder, Montana Tech and PEKE Engineering addressed the challenge of resilient communications in extreme environments, delivering advanced energy storage and retransmission solutions for the 11th Airborne Division. Prototypes have been successfully deployed in both arctic and tropical conditions, with expanded field testing planned for FY2026.
- Buildable Innovation Shop for Operational Needs (BISON): Accelerating FORCE introduced a mobile, modular manufacturing platform enabling rapid UAS production and repair at the point of need. The BISON system supported the 1st Infantry Division during major exercises and is now being fielded across multiple commands, including CENTCOM and Special Forces.
- Spectrum Exchange (SpEX): To address spectrum management challenges on the modern battlefield, Accelerating FORCE partnered with Army units to develop an AI-enabled spectrum orchestration tool. SpEX increased spectrum management efficiency by 600 percent during exercises and is now supporting Army-wide experimentation.
The Catalyst, Pathfinder and Accelerating FORCE programs are designed to enhance lethality, increase readiness, and drive Army transformation by integrating public and private sector innovators and Soldiers into collaborative teams to solve technical problems.
“Collectively, these initiatives represent a scalable innovation ecosystem that transforms operational challenges into field-tested capabilities,” DeCostanza said. “Through close collaboration with Soldiers, academia, industry and government partners, the programs accelerate the delivery of practical, mission-ready solutions that enhance readiness, survivability and overall combat effectiveness across the future force.
For more information on the report and the Army’s tactical innovation initiatives, visit the Catalyst, Pathfinder and Accelerating FORCE Program website.
FY 2025 SUCCESS
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DEVCOM ARL is the Army’s sole fundamental research laboratory serving as the nexus of science between the military, academia and industry. Operating under U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command and the U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command, ARL executes globally recognized research to accelerate delivery of war-winning, disruptive technologies for tomorrow’s Army.
For information, visit the Army Research Laboratory website.
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