TAMPA, Florida — May 13, 2026 : Skyborne Technologies has received a U.S. Department of War Limited Safety Release for its Controller Operated Direct Action Quadruped (CODiAQ) armed unmanned ground system, clearing the platform to proceed into Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) and combat assessments with units from United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and a partnered foreign ally.
The milestone follows independent government testing conducted by the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Center (ATEC) at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The evaluation confirmed that the armed robotic system met Department of War safety requirements for tactical operator handling and live weapon employment.
The CODiAQ platform is based on the Ghost Robotics Vision 60 quadruped system, a four-legged unmanned ground vehicle designed for operations in terrain where wheeled and tracked systems face mobility limitations. The robot is intended for use in urban combat zones, subterranean environments, rubble-filled areas, and confined interior spaces frequently encountered during special operations missions.
Modular Armed Configuration
Skyborne Technologies has integrated modular weapon payloads into the CODiAQ platform, including the HAVOC 40mm grenade launcher and the CHAOS 12-gauge shotgun system. The modular design allows operators to rapidly change payloads depending on mission requirements.
According to the company, the fully loaded system weighs approximately 66 kilograms with the HAVOC payload installed. The platform can be assembled within 10 minutes, while weapon swaps and reload procedures can be completed in approximately 90 seconds.
The system provides an operational endurance of two hours and 15 minutes and is controlled by a single operator using a UXV Technologies SRoC Ground Control Station connected through a Silvus StreamCaster 4200 data link. The platform also incorporates onboard electro-optical and infrared sensors for targeting and navigation support.
Safety Validation and AI-Assisted Targeting
The armed variants utilize Skyborne’s proprietary EXITUS AI targeting software, which provides AI Target Recognition and Tracking (AiTR) capabilities to support rapid target identification and engagement assistance.
Company officials stated that the system operates under a human-in-the-loop architecture, requiring direct operator authorization before weapon employment. The ATEC validation specifically assessed the fire control and safety mechanisms to ensure the robotic platform does not create unacceptable risk to nearby personnel during operations and testing.
The CODiAQ platform is also equipped with a structural roll cage for rollover protection and meets IP67 and MIL-STD-810H environmental testing standards. The system is NDAA compliant and fully compatible with the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) battlefield networking system.
Contract Structure and Delivery Timeline
The Limited Safety Release was granted under a $6.5 million firm-fixed-price research, development, test, and evaluation contract funded and managed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict.
Under the agreement, Skyborne Technologies will deliver 14 CODiAQ systems and 28 modular weapon payloads. The contract also includes a 24-month sustainment package covering maintenance, hardware support, operator training, and maintainer instruction for both U.S. and allied personnel.
Delivery will take place as a complete fielding package rather than through staggered shipments, allowing equipment, sustainment, and training to be integrated into a single operational handoff later in 2026.
Michael J. Trexler, the Government Program Manager overseeing the effort, confirmed that live-fire operator training is scheduled for October 2026.
“We are working closely with Skyborne to deliver CODiAQs and new equipment live fire training to our Tactical Operators in October 2026,” Trexler stated. “CODiAQ represents a deliberate and important step in armed robotic ground systems. This milestone allows the Department of War to rapidly assess operational utility with rigorous emphasis on system safety, operator control, and risk management during OT&E and combat evaluations.”
Operational Role and Manufacturing
The evaluation program will involve multiple Tactical Units of Action within USSOCOM alongside at least one allied foreign partner. The platform is intended for high-risk missions where robotic systems can reduce direct exposure of human operators during close-quarters combat and direct-action operations.
Skyborne Technologies stated that the CODiAQ systems procured under the contract are manufactured in the United States, aligning with current Department of War priorities focused on domestic production, secure supply chains, and long-term sustainment resilience.
The company is scheduled to publicly display the CODiAQ system during SOF Week 2026 in Tampa, Florida, from May 19 to 21 at the Australia Pavilion, Booth 721.
Quadruped robotic systems have increasingly attracted military interest over the past decade, with platforms such as the Vision 60 undergoing various defense evaluations. However, the CODiAQ program’s progression into a formal safety-certified operational testing phase with USSOCOM represents one of the more advanced publicly disclosed procurement and evaluation efforts involving armed quadruped robotic systems.
——— End of Article ———
