BLADE Selected for Phase II of GroundBreaker 1 Demonstration

FREDERICKSBURG, Va., Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- BLADE announced today that HDT Robotics, LLC, doing business as BLADE, has been selected to advance to Phase II of the GroundBreaker 1 unmanned ground vehicle demonstration with its Hunter WOLF multi-mission unmanned ground vehicle.

The selection follows the Government's technical evaluation of BLADE's Phase I solution brief and advances Hunter WOLF to a live hardware demonstration scheduled for October 19-23, 2026, at Camp Grafton, North Dakota.

GroundBreaker 1 is designed to evaluate unmanned ground vehicle technologies for potential employment across tactical and non-tactical missions. During Phase II, Government evaluators will assess technology maturity, operational readiness and cross-domain interoperability.

"Hunter WOLF was built for exactly this kind of challenge," said Tom Van Doren, President, Robotics Sector at BLADE. "This is a mature, mission-ready platform that has been tested alongside warfighters in demanding environments. GroundBreaker 1 gives us the opportunity to demonstrate why the Hunter WOLF is ready to support the warfighter now."

The Hunter WOLF is a multi-mission unmanned ground vehicle engineered to reduce soldier workload, extend operational reach and keep personnel farther from dangerous tasks. Its adaptable architecture supports missions including tactical logistics, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, casualty evacuation, communications support and other mission-critical applications.

Designed for complex and austere environments, Hunter WOLF combines high payload capacity, off-road mobility, onboard power and autonomous and remote-control capabilities. The system has been evaluated through military exercises and training events and has supported operational use in Ukraine, providing BLADE with real-world insight into evolving unmanned ground requirements.

The GroundBreaker 1 selection comes as the Department of War places increasing emphasis on rapidly fielding autonomous and robotic systems capable of operating alongside warfighters. Following Phase II, companies whose demonstrations are successfully evaluated may be invited to Phase III to submit a full proposal for a Prototype Other Transaction Authority award.

About BLADE: For nearly 90 years we've operated as HDT – cutting through the impossible to deliver solutions that protect warfighters, secure assets and deflect enemy threats. As BLADE, we've sharpened our focus to redefine mobility, survivability, and operational superiority in contested environments. BLADE develops systems to perform in hazardous and demanding environments. Building on a legacy of innovation and performance, the company engineers robotic solutions, agile infrastructure, environmental assurance solutions, and systems that support aerial operations and strategic defense and deterrence to achieve operational superiority in the battlespace of tomorrow. Forged by our legacy, sharpened for tomorrow's mission.

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SOURCE HDT Robotics LLC, dba BLADE