The US Army’s Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) has partnered with the Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) to test drone-defence systems in Africa.
In a 16 October release, the US Army stated that the partners aim to move selected technologies to soldiers within 180 days.
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The partnership’s first accelerated capability event is planned for spring 2027 in Tan-Tan, Morocco.
It will examine counter-uncrewed aircraft systems and force-protection technologies for early-entry command posts and operating locations facing small drone threats.
A soldier-led demonstration is scheduled for February and March, followed by an operational assessment during African Lion 2027 in April and May.
The exercise is described by the US Army as the largest joint US Africa Command exercise on the continent.
G-TEAD will assess up to 15 potential solutions, with PAE Fires acting as the transition partner. The announcement did not identify the systems or suppliers expected to take part.
The event will use a three-stage process covering submission and preparation, demonstrations led by soldiers, and a subsequent operational evaluation.
The aim is to move technologies from identification to field use through an accelerated acquisition route.
Africa’s operating environment provides open spectrum, uncongested airspace and varied terrain, according to the US Army.
These conditions will allow soldiers to test systems in circumstances that US and European training ranges may not replicate easily.
G-TEAD operates under the Army Pathway for Innovation and Technology Office and places personnel within US Army service component commands. Its teams are already embedded with US Army Europe and Africa, US Army Pacific and US Army Central.
The directorate assigned personnel to SETAF-AF during the summer to connect operational requirements with acquisition resources.
G-TEAD director, US Army Colonel Christopher Hill said the organisation was intended to address a gap between commanders’ priorities and the authority and funding needed to act on them.
“ASCCs always had priorities, they’ve always had capability gaps, but the two things they’ve never had is acquisition authority and research, development, test and evaluation dollars,” Hill said.
Because G-TEAD works across several commands, Hill said it could coordinate modernisation activity, combine funding and help move solutions validated in one theatre into wider US Army use.
The Morocco event is the first accelerated capability event announced by SETAF-AF under the partnership. Its outcome will depend on the soldier demonstrations and follow-on assessment planned during African Lion 2027.
