Planners of African Lion aim to deploy soldier-like robots for use in live-fire drills in this year’s iteration. The semiautonomous machines they’re seeking can run quickly across terrain, produce sound effects and even flinch when hit. The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) is moving toward a data-centric model that prioritises the rapid integration of advanced technology.
Central to this transformation is the AFRICOM Innovation Initiative. This program is designed to bypass traditional, lengthy procurement cycles in favour of iterative development, bringing commercial sector agility to the specific needs of the warfighter. The goal is to address a diverse spectrum of threats, from violent extremist organisations to grey-zone competition, by deploying technologies tailored for the African operational environment. This shift is becoming visible in the planning for the upcoming African Lion 2026 exercise, where the command intends to replace static training aids with semiautonomous robotic systems and artificial intelligence (AI) decision-support tools.
Established in 2007, AFRICOM was mandated to coordinate U.S. military engagement across the continent by strengthening local defense capabilities, countering transnational threats, and supporting peacekeeping missions. Historically, this involved a mix of counterterrorism training, maritime security, and humanitarian relief in coordination with civilian agencies like USAID and multilateral bodies such as the African Union. However, recent initiatives suggest the command is pivoting toward a more technically sophisticated training environment.
Modernizing the Live-Fire Environment
For decades, marksmanship and tactical drills have relied on conventional systems consisting of two-dimensional targets moving laterally across fixed rails. These systems offer limited realism, as they do not mimic the unpredictable movement or physical reactions of a human adversary. To bridge this gap, planners for African Lion 2026 are seeking lifelike, three-dimensional robotic targets to use in live-fire drills.
In January 2026, the Army published a solicitation for two robotic vehicle targets and eight robotic infantry targets. According to officials from the Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), this will be the first time such technology is utilised during the African Lion series. These machines are not merely mobile targets; they are designed to be reactive. The infantry robots will consist of a three-dimensional mannequin, ranging in height from 4 feet, 1 inch to 5 feet, 9 inches, mounted on a heavily armoured four-wheel base.
These mannequins are required to be fully autonomous and capable of “running” at speeds up to 11 miles per hour, matching the average sprinting speed of a human adult. Beyond mobility, the robots must provide instant feedback to the shooter. This includes the ability to flinch when hit, drop flat, stop moving, or even reduce simulated speech. By imitating how an enemy might react under fire, these systems increase the difficulty and realism of training scenarios for U.S. and partner forces.
It’s particularly beneficial for service members to practice firing on travelling armoured vehicles with first-person view drones, which has become one of the most common strike scenarios in the Russia-Ukraine war, Gasparri said. “We wanted to create a realistic situation and train our FPV operators against something that would be valuable on the battlefield,” he said.
Infantry robots should include a three-dimensional target mannequin between 4 feet, 1 inch and 5 feet, 9 inches tall that is mounted on a heavily armoured four-wheel base, according to the solicitation. The robots are expected to simulate how an enemy might move or react during a live-fire situation, according to the solicitation document. They should also be able to perform tasks such as patrolling in formation, scattering for cover or chasing other fleeing targets, it said.
The solicitation also extends to vehicular targets. The command requires robotic vehicles that resemble modern military technical trucks or armoured vehicles. These platforms must be rugged enough to navigate rocky, uneven terrain while sustaining hits from machine gun fire and simulated explosive blasts. This level of durability and autonomy allows for more dynamic, unscripted manoeuvres during multinational exercises.
The integration of these technologies follows a period of leadership transition and renewed diplomatic engagement. General Dagvin Anderson, the commander of U.S. AFRICOM, recently conducted his inaugural visit to the continent, meeting with Kenyan defence officials in Nairobi on September 3, 2025. This high-level engagement followed a working visit on August 28, 2024, by Brigadier General Shawn Holtz, the Deputy Director for Plans and Strategic Integration (J5), to the Ghana Navy. Discussions between Holtz and Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu focused on enhancing collaboration in training, logistics, and intelligence-sharing to bolster maritime security and counter-piracy efforts.
The training mission itself has seen structural changes. Since General Stephen J. Townsend assumed command, certain exercises have reverted from Marine Corps to Army oversight. While Marine Forces Africa continues to lead the African Lion exercise in Morocco and provide specialised training in areas such as sniper activity, the U.S. Army now plays an expanded role in the Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Initiative. This is most visible in Operation Flintlock and the Justified Accord exercises, the latter of which was hosted by Ethiopia in 2019 and 2020.
Planning for the next iteration of African Lion is already well underway. From September 14 to 19, 2025, military planners from SETAF-AF, AFRICOM, the Italian Armed Forces, and the Tunisian Armed Forces met in Tunis to shape the exercise. African Lion 2026 is scheduled to take place across Morocco, Tunisia, and Ghana, involving approximately 600 participants from the U.S., France, Italy, and various African partner nations.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Systems
A notable feature of the 2026 exercise will be the inclusion of a dynamic testing and innovation centre. This “open-air field lab” will be embedded within the drills, allowing troops to assess AI decision-making systems and digital communications under realistic operational conditions. Defence industry experts will work alongside military planners to align emerging technologies with tactical scenarios.
The potential for AI to automate decision-making and perform tasks previously reserved for human operators was a central theme during the initial planning events in Tunis. Participants explored scenarios involving: Using data to anticipate equipment failure or supply needs before they occur. Utilising unmanned systems to gather intelligence in high-risk areas. Applying digital tools to evaluate battlefield data rapidly. AI can assist commanders in processing vast amounts of information to make faster, more accurate tactical choices.
These efforts are intended to validate evolving capabilities while ensuring that ethical and operational standards are maintained. Lieutenant Colonel Corbett Baxter, the exercise director for AL26, noted that the exercise serves as an opportunity to build readiness and innovate, ensuring armed forces are prepared for future challenges through shared commitment.
The shift toward robotic targets and AI-driven scenarios in African Lion 2026 represents a departure from traditional “theatre security cooperation” toward a more high-tech partnership model. By integrating autonomous systems that can sprint at 11 miles per hour and react to incoming fire, the command is forcing a higher level of tactical proficiency from its participants. The exercise, scheduled from April 20 to May 8, 2026, will serve as a testing ground for whether these advanced technologies can be effectively integrated into a multinational environment.