Overland AI Tests Autonomous Combat Vehicles With US Forces in Morocco

Overland AI has deployed two autonomous ground vehicles during African Lion 2026, US Africa Command’s largest annual military exercise, to demonstrate uncrewed ground combat operations alongside US forces in Morocco.

The company’s ULTRA autonomous ground vehicles were used during combat engineering and defensive training scenarios at the Cap Draa Training Area in Morocco’s Sahara Desert.

Participating personnel included members of the US Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade and 7th Engineer Brigade, along with the US Marine Corps’ 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion.

One scenario involved a counter-attack mission in which a vehicle equipped with a Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station provided remote fire support.

A second vehicle fitted with an Anti-Personnel Obstacle Breaching System was used to clear wire obstacles alongside dismounted troops.

In a separate defensive scenario, an ULTRA vehicle deployed XM204 terrain-shaping munitions to create defensive barriers.

The vehicles also navigated battlefield obstacles, including berms, anti-vehicle ditches, tank barriers, and simulated minefields.

African Lion 2026, held from April 20 to May 8, provided a live operational environment for testing autonomous systems under austere desert conditions alongside multinational military forces.

According to Overland AI, the systems became operational within 24 hours of arriving from the US, demonstrating rapid deployment capability in expeditionary settings.

The company’s ULTRA platform is designed for autonomous ground operations in contested environments.

It combines Overland AI’s OverDrive autonomy software and SPARK hardware architecture with modular payload options, including uncrewed aerial systems and counter-UAS capabilities.

The vehicle has a gross weight of 3,500 pounds (1,588 kilograms), a payload capacity of 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms), and a top speed of 35 miles (56 kilometers) per hour.