Spotlight: Lethality in Focus – A New Era of Soldier-Centered Innovation 

The U.S. Army xTech Program and Program Executive Office Soldier initiated a strategic partnership to address urgent combat capability gaps through two focused competitions. xTechSoldier Lethality, launched in 2023, targeted innovations for the Precision Grenadier System, while xTechSoldier Fire Control, launched earlier this year, focuses on Next Generation Squad Weapons. These competitions invited industry innovators to pitch and prototype solutions that enhance Soldier effectiveness on the battlefield. Finalists from the xTechSoldier Lethality competition demonstrated their PGS prototypes in person in NC and TN, where they received direct feedback from acquisition leaders, the requirements community and operational users. xTechSoldier Lethality concluded in May 2025 with a winning solution, from MARS, Inc., poised for transition, while xTechSoldier Fire Control is set to host final demonstrations in early 2026. The competition concluded in May 2025 with, with MARS, Inc., emerging as the winner, its solution now poised for transition. Meanwhile, xTechSoldier Fire Control is set to host final demonstrations in early 2026. This collaboration marks the first time xTech and PEO Soldier have partnered on competitions, signaling a new level of integration between innovation and acquisition.

Innovation in Action 

These competitions represent a shift in how the Army engages with nontraditional innovators. By embedding acquisition and requirements teams and end-users early in the process, xTech and PEO Soldier created a dynamic environment for co-development. Finalists participated in live pitch events and hands-on demonstrations at testing facilities within the U.S., allowing the Army to interact directly with emerging technologies. Many of these finalists partnered with other businesses—combining their strengths to deliver more integrated, mission-ready solutions. Through this real-time engagement, PEO Soldier also played a critical role in shaping product development by providing real-time feedback from acquisition experts, requirements developers, and operational stakeholders. Their engagement ensured that emerging technologies were aligned with tactical needs and informed future capability planning. As companies progressed through the competition, they received cash prizes to support continued prototype development. The effort also created pathways for follow-on funding and potential contract opportunities to accelerate promising solutions into Army programs.

Strategic Impact 

The xTech–PEO Soldier partnership exemplifies Army FUZE’s mission to drive innovation that directly supports the warfighter. By aligning competitions with mission-critical priorities and facilitating collaboration between innovators and acquisition stakeholders, the Army is accelerating the delivery of lethal capabilities. This model strengthens the Army’s innovation ecosystem, expands its access to cutting-edge technologies, and demonstrates how targeted competitions can rapidly transition solutions from concept to combat.