Scout AI raises $100 million to build AI for military vehicles

In short: Scout AI says it has raised $100 million to train AI software that can help control military vehicles, including autonomous off-road vehicles.

What happened

Scout AI, a defense-focused startup founded in 2024 by Coby Adcock and Collin Otis, announced a $100 million Series A funding round. The company said the round was led by Align Ventures and Draper Associates.

Scout is training an AI system it calls Fury at a US military base in central California, which the company asked not to be named. In testing, Scout uses autonomous all-terrain vehicles, or ATVs, to learn how to drive on rough, unmarked trails. The goal is for the AI to handle situations that are hard to predict, like steep hills, loose sand, and confusing intersections.

The company says it is building software to help soldiers manage multiple machines at once. One planned product, called Ox, is described as command-and-control software, meaning a tool for giving instructions and coordinating equipment. Scout says a soldier could use simple text-like instructions, such as telling several drones and vehicles where to go and what to watch for.

Scout also said it has received $11 million in military technology development contracts from groups including DARPA (a US Defense Department research agency) and the Army Applications Laboratory. The company is one of 20 autonomy companies whose technology is being used in US Army training with the 1st Cavalry Division, with an expected deployment in 2027.

Why it matters

This work points to a future where one person may supervise a small fleet of machines, instead of driving each vehicle or piloting each drone separately. Supporters say this could reduce risk for troops during tasks like carrying water or ammunition. Critics and policymakers will likely focus on how much control humans keep, especially as Scout says it plans to move from logistics to weapons.

Source: TechCrunch AI