WASHINGTON— African Lion 26 (AL26) is U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual joint and multinational exercise, uniting U.S., African, and allied forces to strengthen security and readiness across North and West Africa. From April 20 to May 8, thirty‑eight Army‑identified technology vendors will test their capabilities alongside warfighters across Morocco, Ghana, and Senegal—providing a rare opportunity to validate, refine, and potentially transition emerging technologies into operational use.
Among these contributors, the Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G‑TEAD) will support the effort with eight vetted capabilities designed to advance emerging deep‑attack and counterattack requirements in a demanding, real‑world environment.
Significance of African Lion
African Lion 26 operates at a scale that few other exercises match. Nearly 5,000 U.S. and partner personnel from close to 50 participating or observing nations will take part in this year’s exercise, including units from every service branch are involved, all conducting missions that span the full spectrum of operations—from high‑intensity combat training to humanitarian assistance efforts expected to support more than 20,000 civilians across the continent.
This scale and diversity create an ideal proving ground for testing new technologies under realistic, multinational conditions.
G-TEAD Sets Tone for Deep Attack and Counterattack Solutions
G‑TEAD works directly with Army Service Component Command (ASCC) Commanders to translate top operational priorities into actionable technology requirements. In close coordination with U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR‑AF), G‑TEAD’s forward‑deployed teams identify affordable, warfighter‑tested solutions that can be delivered within 90 days of an exercise. At African Lion 26, that mission will be fully underway.
Ahead of the exercise, G‑TEAD identified eight capabilities with the potential to meet critical USAREUR‑AF needs. These include Anduril’s Long‑Range Precision Munition and Ghost X drone system; Mach Industries’ Micro High‑Altitude Balloons equipped with the Gremzi Camera and Stratos Darkwing; Performance Drone Works’ C‑100 quadcopter; Nokutnral’s Nightmare system; and Kraken Kinetics’ Terminus Fire Control Module. All eight systems will be evaluated by Soldiers in real‑world conditions throughout the exercise in Morocco, providing a clear picture of how they perform under operational stress.
G‑TEAD’s primary objective at AL26 is to collect structured, actionable data on how these systems operate in the field. The program gathers insights from Soldiers using the equipment, from the technologies themselves through onboard analytics, and from subject‑matter experts observing performance on the ground. This data supports three major outcomes: effectiveness reports that help developers refine hardware and software; doctrinal insights that inform updates to tactics, techniques, and procedures; and procurement recommendations that guide future investment decisions. In short, African Lion enables G‑TEAD to improve technology, inform doctrine, and support smarter acquisition choices for the Army and the joint force.
Opportunities Beyond African Lion
African Lion 26 provides a rare level of international visibility, with dozens of nations observing as vendors demonstrate their capabilities in operational conditions. This environment creates meaningful opportunities for Foreign Military Sales and may lead to future procurement discussions with partner nations.
African Lion 26 offers more than a venue for training—it provides a proving ground where technology, doctrine, and operational insight converge. Through its targeted contributions, G‑TEAD is helping the Army identify what works, refine what doesn’t, and invest in solutions that strengthen the joint force for future missions.
About G-TEAD
The Army Pathway for Innovation and Technology (PIT)’s Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) is the force’s premier acquisition hub, designed to close the gap between evolving threats and the speed of delivering critical solutions. G-TEAD’s mission is to rapidly transform urgent commanders’ needs into combat-ready, interoperable systems, ensuring Soldiers sustain battlefield dominance in any environment.
Through synchronized efforts across the acquisition enterprise and close collaboration with allied partners, G-TEAD accelerates the delivery of minimum viable products (MVPs) to theater, bridging innovation with mission success. As the Army’s central hub for agile capability deployment, G-TEAD ensures Soldiers are equipped with the tools they need to win—wherever and whenever the fight arises.
About The Army Pathway for Innovation and Technology (PIT)
The Army Pathway for Innovation and Technology accelerates Army modernization through dual-use innovation, strategic partnerships, and mission-driven outcomes. As a critical enabler of Army acquisition reform, PIT injects capability faster by getting in the dirt with the Soldier, performing prototyping at the edge and delivering operational impact at the speed of relevance.
The PIT serves as a critical hub that integrates the efforts of three essential organizations within the Army innovation enterprise. Army FUZE, the Joint Innovation Outpost (JIOP), and the Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) serve as the operational backbone of the PIT, underpinned by a unified vision to see, share, synchronize, and scale.
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