Army Special Forces Embracing Robots in All Domains
12/8/2025
By Laura Heckmann
A remotely controlled Micro Tactical Ground Robot participates in a training exercise.
Army photo
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Army special operators are working to integrate technology that reflects the changing nature of war, creating a detachment dedicated to robotics and planning to soon incorporate technicians into their formations.
In March 2024, 1st Special Forces Command created the Special Operations Robotics Detachment, resulting from “the experience of military operations in Ukraine” and the attention paid to “new products of an asymmetric nature,” an Army statement of work for the detachment read.
The detachment is made up of aviation soldiers that provide subject matter expertise in the employment of robotics and programmatic oversight of Group 1-3 uncrewed aerial systems. They also lead innovation and employment of commercial off-the-shelf, government off-the-shelf or organically built robotics systems, the statement said.
The creation of the detachment reflects a change within Army Special Operations Command “over the past couple years” and “the direction that we’re going,” said Brig. Gen. Joseph Wortham, commander of 1st Special Forces Command. “And that really is an evolution of a capability where we see our ability to be able to help in that deep space.”
https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2025/12/8/army-special-forces-embracing-robots-in-all-domains
