WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army designated Fort Rucker Tuesday as the new Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Autonomy Center of Excellence.
The military base will help lead the Army’s efforts to develop, test, and integrate autonomous technologies. The announcement comes alongside a larger overhaul of autonomous technologies across the Army.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt called Fort Rucker the “beating heart of Army Aviation,” and the installation’s importance is only expected to grow with this new designation.
“As the character of warfare continues to evolve, our military must move with speed and purpose to integrate the capabilities that will deter our adversaries, protect our homeland, and give our servicemembers every possible advantage on the battlefield,” Britt, R-Ala., said in a statement. “I am deeply proud that the Wiregrass and the state of Alabama will continue to play a central role in strengthening our national security.”
The new initiative will advance the testing and integration of autonomous systems across several operational formations. In Alabama, the efforts will build upon pairing manned and unmanned rotary-wing aircraft.
Gen. Christopher LaNeve, vice chief of staff of the Army and acting chief of staff of the Army, said establishing the center of excellence at Fort Rucker will bolster the acceleration of the “Army’s autonomy goals.”
“Fort Rucker is unique in that we can bring together warfighting experts and cutting-edge commercial capabilities to test technology the way we intend to fight it,” LaNeve said.
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore said the designation is a “major win” for Alabama’s national security capabilities and will provide service members the necessary tools and technology to fight adversaries.
“Fort Rucker is uniquely positioned to help shape the future of Army aviation, and I look forward to working together to build on this progress,” Moore, R-Enterprise, said in a statement.
In July, Army leaders and Alabama federal lawmakers celebrated the ribbon-cutting of new barracks to house soldiers, complete with updated learning spaces for the soldiers at Fort Rucker.