US Army seeks AI-driven airspace management tools amid growing battlefield complexity

The US Army has issued a new Request for Information (RFI) aimed at harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies to enhance airspace management and improve situational awareness for commanders operating in increasingly complex and contested environments.

Posted on August 6, the RFI outlines the Army’s growing concern over the cognitive burden placed on human operators managing dynamic airspace populated by both manned and unmanned platforms, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

As modern warfare evolves to include multi-domain operations, loitering munitions, autonomous systems, and electronic warfare, the demand for intelligent automation is becoming more urgent.

“This RFI is focused on addressing the cognitive burden faced by commanders in managing complex airspace operations and maintaining situational awareness in a rapidly evolving battlefield environment,” the notice states.

The Army is soliciting two categories of solutions. The first, referred to as “fight tonight” capabilities, calls for mature, ready-to-deploy technologies that can be rapidly integrated into existing operations. The second set of objectives looks toward long-term innovation, seeking advanced AI/ML solutions that can be embedded into next-generation command-and-control systems.

“AI-enabled airspace management solutions have the potential to address challenges by leveraging machine learning, predictive analytics, and automation to enhance situational awareness, optimize airspace allocation, and enable rapid decision-making,” the RFI states.

The Army is particularly interested in tools that can process and analyze data from diverse sources in real time, forecast airspace usage patterns, and provide proactive recommendations to improve mission safety, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Vendors with viable solutions are invited to respond to the RFI by August 29, 2025. The Army also intends to evaluate select technologies during a live demonstration at the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center in November.

By Vafa Guliyeva