Ford's F-250 pickup truck has been spotted undergoing U.S. Army testing with a weapon system designed to take down drones.Three Ford Super Duty prototypes, developed under a contract with the U.S. Defense Department, have been spotted undergoing testing by Next Gen Defense at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. The trucks are being evaluated as potential candidates for the Army's next tactical vehicle, and they come with some notable features.Ford Authority reported recently that "more than one" automaker is considering the possibility of shifting from vehicle to weapons production, or supplying military vehicles to U.S. and European governments. The Ford F-250 being tested by the U.S. Army is one such example. Specifically, the truck is being tested for drone defense, where it can be driven autonomously while carrying a shotgun-armed turret.AdvertisementAdvertisementThough an unconventional approach, testing included a live-fire exercise. The reconfigured Ford F-250 combined Forterra's AutoDrive autonomous driving system with the Edda counter-drone turret developed by Austin-based defense company 9 Mothers.Image Credit: FordThe Edda counter-drone system gives the autonomous truck another layer of protection, using acoustic sensors to detect incoming drones before switching to visual tracking for targeting. Meanwhile, the F-250 is designed to perform autonomous obstacle-reduction missions, allowing it to help clear paths through hazards such as minefields, wires, and other battlefield barriers.The capability was demonstrated during Project Sandhills 2.0, a U.S. Army initiative focused on moving autonomous breaching and terrain-shaping technology beyond the prototype stage and toward systems that could eventually be deployed in the field. As part of the program, Forterra will provide its AutoDrive technology and fully integrated autonomous mission systems for Ford F-250 platforms, enabling them to perform autonomous breaching operations.AdvertisementAdvertisementBeyond its latest military vehicle efforts, Ford is not new to defense work. The automaker has supplied military equipment for more than a century, dating back to World War I, when it produced Model T-based ambulances, trucks, tractors, and aircraft engines for the Allied war effort.During World War II, Ford significantly expanded its military production, building Jeeps, aircraft engines, tanks, and thousands of B-24 Liberator bombers. Today, the company is once again looking to expand its defense business, including pitching its F-Series and Ranger platforms to European militaries.
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