Picogrid Collaborates with CX2 for Scarlet Dragon Project
Picogrid, an integration startup based in El Segundo, CA, and CX2, a company specializing in advanced electromagnetic warfare (EW) and radio frequency (RF) sensing, recently announced a new collaboration. Together, they integrated CX2’s radio frequency (RF) detection technology with radars and other sensors during the U.S. Army XVIII Airborne Corps’ recent Scarlet Dragon exercise at Fort Bragg.
Scarlet Dragon, which originated in 2020 as a tabletop exercise, has evolved into the XVIII Airborne Corps’ primary triannual innovation event. The latest iteration focused on integration, data sharing, and targeting for enhanced mobile air defense for tactical Army operations, with particular emphasis on Palantir’s Maven Smart System, a widely used military AI platform that pulls in data from a wide variety of sensors.
During the Scarlet Dragon exercise, Picogrid’s flagship software, Legion, successfully integrated CX2’s RF sensors with radars, passive acoustics, and other sensors. Legion is designed to combine data from various systems, integrating physical assets, streamlining information, and connecting operational tools to serve as an intermediary among drones, sensors, robotics platforms, and battlefield software. The combined data was transmitted to Maven, which operates as the Corps’ central command and control platform.
“We were able to execute an autonomous mission where Legion took the threat detections coming from CX2 and acoustics to cue the radar to start emitting to confirm the threat,” Picogrid co-founder Martin Slosarik said. “CX2’s sensors detected small-UAS, but also Apache helicopters, which is sort of representative of the spectrum of threats that you’re going to see on the modern battlefield.”
Through Legion, Picogrid has established a robust partner ecosystem, including Northrop Grumman’s counter-drone C2 platform and Skydio, with Maven Smart System a key component, under a $480M Army contract.
Picogrid’s technology is critical because the Pentagon is investing heavily in global AI-enhanced multi-domain command networks. However, many older “legacy” systems lack basic compatibility with eachother or future technologies. While Maven aggregates and integrates satellite imagery, drone feeds, radar, sensors, and other sources into a user-friendly interface that supports targeting and logistics operations, Legion functions as a translator for technologies connecting to Maven, now incorporating CX2’s solutions.
“Our focus has always been on breaking down data silos,” said Picogrid co-founder and CEO Zane Mountcastle. “By connecting Legion’s rich, real-time data streams directly into Maven’s powerful analytics engine, we’re giving commands the fastest, most complete picture of the battlefield.”
Integrating legacy systems that were previously incompatible into a unified, modern digital framework demands significant engineering expertise, according to Slosarik. Slosarik said that recent developments in artificial intelligence now enable engineers to accomplish in several months what once required a year of effort. Using Large Language Models (LLMs), the Picogrid team is able to process extensive technical documents. They have trained an LLM to respond to engineers’ questions about resources, such as the Army’s open-source Integrated Sensor Architecture. These models can even generate portions of required code.
CX2 CEO Nathan Mintz noted the rapid deployment achieved: “At Scarlet Dragon, our system was integrated and operational within minutes, despite less than a day of preparation.” He also indicated that further partnerships are anticipated, facilitated by Legion’s efficient integration capabilities, giving CX2 access to a broad network of collaborators. The company recently released two notable electronic warfare products: Vadris, an RF seeker plug-in for FPV drones capable of identifying the location of drone pilots, and Wraith, a sensor-equipped drone that detects GPS jammers and enemy control links, providing operators with situational awareness of electronic warfare threats.