At AUSA 2026, UK defence manufacturer Pearson Engineering is commemorating 30 years of working alongside the US Army.
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Press Release, Washington DC, 06 October 2026: UK defence manufacturer Pearson Engineering is commemorating a significant milestone at AUSA 2026 – 30 years of working alongside the US Army, the US Government and the wider American defence community.
Globally recognized for designing and manufacturing counter-mine, route proving, combat earthmoving, and assault bridging equipment, Pearson Engineering has built a longstanding relationship with the United States. This has seen its equipment and technologies tested, integrated and deployed alongside US forces, while supporting the needs of the wider allied community. From operational experience in Iraq and Afghanistan to today’s developments in autonomous and uncrewed systems, Pearson Engineering’s Stateside relationships have provided valuable insight into the needs of those on the battlefield, rigorous opportunities to test and refine technology, and a route to bringing new solutions to market.
The relationship has been shaped by real-world experience. During operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Pearson Engineering’s SPARK family of counter-IED rollers systems was fielded by US forces to help protect vehicles from explosive threat and maintain freedom of movement. The experience gained in these demanding operational environments helped reinforce the importance of rapidly deployable, reliable counter-IED technology, while subsequent US contracting and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) activity continued to support the provision of SPARK systems for operations in Afghanistan.
The company’s relationship with the US Government and FMS has also allowed for comprehensive testing and support in the United States, helping proven equipment reach international allies. A strong example is SLICE, Pearson Engineering’s plug-and-play vehicle integration system, which was fully tested on the M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Following successful validation, the tool formed part of an engineering package supplied to equip 99 M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 tanks for the Polish Armed Forces through the US FMS channel.
That spirit of partnership continues as the battlefield evolves. Pearson Engineering’s expertise in robotics and autonomous systems is advancing through strategic relationships with industry leaders, including American Rheinmetall on an uncrewed breaching system and Overland AI through the US Army’s Engineer Autonomous Breaching Capability (EABC) initiative.
The company’s collaboration with Skydio brought Pearson Engineering’s Threat-Sense AI technology to NATO-approved drones, supporting advanced mine detection and demonstrating how complementary technologies can be combined to address emerging threats.
“For more than 30 years, the US Army has challenged us to solve some of the most demanding problems facing soldiers on the battlefield – and that relationship has helped shape the way we engineer, test and deliver our equipment,” said Ian Bell, CEO of Pearson Engineering.
“From SPARK systems protecting US forces from IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan, through to the rigorous testing of SLICE on the Abrams at Aberdeen Proving Ground and our work today in autonomy and AI, we have learned an enormous amount from working alongside the US defence community.
“That experience has made us better, and it has helped us deliver equipment not only for the United States, but for its allies through programs such as FMS. We are proud of what we have achieved together, and of the contribution that this enduring relationship makes to allied readiness and interoperability.”
Visit Pearson Engineering at AUSA 2026, Booth 661, to learn more about its capabilities and its longstanding commitment to working with the US Army and its allies.
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