The next era of autonomous defense

Image: Courtesy of L3Harris Technologies.

L3Harris has a proud legacy of autonomy spanning decades. Our deep expertise, combined with a culture of collaboration, positions us as the Trusted Disruptor in defense technology. Today, we stand on the cusp of a breakthrough moment. Autonomous systems have matured across air, sea and subsurface domains, but the challenge remains: how do we operate not just a handful, but thousands of autonomous assets simultaneously and effectively?

To meet this challenge, we developed AMORPHOUS™, an open-architecture system designed to scale and manage thousands of autonomous assets at once. With AMORPHOUS, we are pushing the boundaries of autonomous control and tackling today’s most pressing challenges in large-scale autonomy.

Solving the Problem of Scale

Jon Rambeau, President of Integrated Mission Systems, L3Harris Technologies.

The fundamental issue in modern defense operations isn’t just about technology; it’s about scale. Commanding and controlling thousands of autonomous assets in a contested environment requires more than human oversight. It demands a system that can serve as the orchestra conductor, seamlessly coordinating assets to achieve mission success.

AMORPHOUS provides this capability by leveraging collaborative autonomy, enabling a leaderless swarm of systems. Instead of relying on a single asset or “mothership” for control, AMORPHOUS allows autonomous assets to manage themselves – passing control seamlessly between platforms if one is compromised. This creates a more resilient, flexible and scalable system that can handle complex missions in dynamic environments.

An Open, Collaborative Ecosystem

Built on an open-architecture foundation, AMORPHOUS invites collaboration and provides adaptability, ensuring it remains flexible and responsive to future demands.

At L3Harris, we recognize that the success of collaborative autonomy depends on industry-wide participation. That’s why we’ve adopted a partnership-driven approach, drawing on the expertise of both traditional and emerging tech companies. Collaborations with small, innovative tech firms, including those identified through our relationship with venture capital firm, Shield Capital, have allowed us to integrate cutting-edge solutions into AMORPHOUS. This fosters a dynamic and scalable ecosystem that avoids vendor lock and is compatible with future advancements.

From Concept to Reality: Advancing Autonomous Systems

Autonomous systems have long played a critical role in defense. Today, these systems are evolving from basic platform and mission autonomy to sophisticated collaborative systems, where thousands of assets independently decide how to best contribute to a mission.

AMORPHOUS represents the culmination of this trend. By combining smart swarm technology – which is the ability to pass control from one asset to another seamlessly – with flexible, interoperable assets, AMORPHOUS allows warfighters to command large fleets of autonomous systems. It’s about more than just controlling drones or robots; it’s about enabling the commander’s intent through autonomy, even in complex and contested environments.

Because AMORPHOUS understands controlling autonomous assets at scale, it is just as well equipped to detect, track and defeat large swarms of adversary systems. That’s why we’ve also applied AMORPHOUS to the challenge of Counter-Unmanned Air Systems, or C-UAS.

Whether tasked with kinetic or non-kinetic C-UAS missions, AMORPHOUS optimizes asset positioning – such as electro-optical, infrared sensors, radar and high-powered microwave systems – allowing for the most effective outcomes. This system-of-systems methodology enables AMORPHOUS to take on some of the Department of Defense’s most dangerous tasks, ultimately reducing risks to operators and enhancing operational efficiency.

A Future-Proof Solution for Modern Warfare

AMORPHOUS represents the next chapter in autonomous systems, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in defense technology. But this isn’t just a vision for the future – it’s happening today. Through active contracts with the U.S. Army and the Defense Innovation Unit, we are demonstrating AMORPHOUS’ real-world applicability in complex operational environments. Successful government-managed tests, involving multiple assets across different domains and vehicle types, showcase the platform’s ability to address the evolving needs of modern warfare.

As the Trusted Disruptor, L3Harris remains committed to delivering innovative, scalable solutions that address the changing demands of our customers. AMORPHOUS is a tool for today’s defense needs, and it’s a future-proof solution designed to adapt to the challenges of tomorrow.

Jon Rambeau is President of the Integrated Mission Systems segment at L3Harris Technologies. Jon leads an extensive portfolio of solutions including autonomy, reconnaissance, electro optics, aviation and power distribution. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, L3Harris delivers end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.