# Experimental Demonstration Gateway Event **Entity class:** Recurring U.S. Army aviation and autonomy experiment **Aliases:** EDGE **Lead:** [[wiki/Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team|Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team]] **As of:** 2026-09-23 ## Definition The **Experimental Demonstration Gateway Event (EDGE)** is an Army experimentation series for aviation, uncrewed systems, [[wiki/Air-Launched Effects|air-launched effects]], networked collaborative behavior, autonomy, and related tactical technologies. EDGE 24 at Yuma Proving Ground tested launched-effect and uncrewed-aircraft behavior both on and off the network in a representative threat environment. EDGE is not simply an exhibition. The Army uses controlled range space, radars, high-speed cameras, threat representatives, spectrum access, and technical data collection to learn how vendor and government prototypes behave under operationally relevant conditions. Results inform requirements and maturation; there is no simple pass-or-fail gate. ## Relationships - **lead organization:** [[wiki/Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team|Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team]] within [[wiki/Army Futures Command|Army Futures Command]]. - **technical focus:** [[wiki/Edge Computing|Edge Computing]], [[wiki/Mesh Network|Mesh Network]], [[wiki/Electronic Warfare|Electronic Warfare]], and [[wiki/Automated Target Recognition|Automated Target Recognition]]. - **event ecosystem:** [[wiki/Intelligence and Defense Conferences|Intelligence and Defense Conferences]]. - **collection route:** [[collections/Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and the Intelligence Environment|Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and the Intelligence Environment]]. ## Sources / Provenance - [U.S. Army — EDGE 24, September 17, 2024](https://www.army.mil/article/279754/army_examines_aviation_technologies_at_edge_24) - [U.S. Army — Future Vertical Lift and EDGE 22](https://www.army.mil/article/259327/armys_future_vertical_lift_eyes_future_skies)