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Reviewed and published by trentmaziarz, April 25, 2026. Discovered and drafted by our automated research pipeline.

Foundation tested two Phantom MK-1 humanoid robots in Ukraine starting February 2026 in a frontline-reconnaissance support role, per co-founder Mike LeBlanc's statements to TIME. The robots use a camera-first visual perception system and LLM-based task-to-motion software that converts operator commands into movement sequences, and they operate with a human in the loop for any lethal decisions.

Details

Foundation sent two Phantom MK-1 units to Ukraine in February 2026 for a frontline-reconnaissance support pilot, with the company stating intent to prepare Phantoms for further Pentagon deployment. The robot uses visual sensors to interpret its surroundings; an LLM-based task-to-motion layer converts high-level operator commands into movement sequences. Under current U.S. Department of Defense protocols, automated systems may engage only with explicit human authorization, and Foundation states it applies that same principle to Phantom. The specific Ukrainian operator, location, and mission outcomes are not disclosed in any reviewed source.

Products affected

Phantom MK-1Cortex

Sources & Evidence

News Article

https://www.thedefensenews.com/news-details/US-Company-Foundation-Deploys-Phantom-MK-1-Humanoid-Robots-to-Ukraine-for-Battlefield-Testing/

News Article

https://interestingengineering.com/military/humanoid-soldier-robots-arrive-in-ukraine

News Article

https://interestingengineering.com/military/us-foundation-build-50000-humanoid-robots

News Article

Company Testing Humanoid Robot Soldiers on Frontlines of Ukraine

Futurism·Mar 2026

https://futurism.com/robots-and-machines/humanoid-robots-ukraine-war

News ArticleVerified

Two humanoid soldier robots delivered to Ukraine by US company – Time

Ukrainska Pravda·Mar 2026

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/03/13/8025400/

News ArticleVerified

The Race to Build AI Humanoid Soldiers for War

TIME·Mar 2026

https://time.com/article/2026/03/09/ai-robots-soldiers-war/

Cite this record

Trace Foundation. (2026). Foundation: Foundation tested two Phantom MK-1 humanoid robots in Ukraine starting February 2026 in a frontline-reconnaissance support role, per co-founder Mike LeBlanc's statements to TIME. The robots use a camera-first visual perception system and LLM-based task-to-motion software that converts operator commands into movement sequences, and they operate with a human in the loop for any lethal decisions (data as of 2026-04-25) [Data set record]. AI Trace. https://www.aitrace.org/r/practice/3fa1e1e9-f9eb-49db-b9ef-f5f01fe5c279. Accessed September 11, 2026.

Stable link: https://www.aitrace.org/r/practice/3fa1e1e9-f9eb-49db-b9ef-f5f01fe5c279
Data as of: April 25, 2026
Last verified: April 25, 2026

How to cite AI Trace

Other practices by Foundation

Data AnalysisFoundation uses data generated during Phantom robot deployments to retrain its proprietary AI action models, according to CEO Sankaet Pathak in a March 2025 interview. When a human operator remotely intervenes to correct a robot's behavior, that intervention is labeled and fed back into the model. Sacra reports that this feedback loop is built into Foundation's business model, with larger fleets producing more training data and improving model accuracy over time.OtherFoundation announced a planned AI system called 'fleet coherence' that would allow multiple Phantom robots to share real-time task and environment data, coordinate their actions across a shared world graph, and dynamically allocate work to avoid duplication. As of early 2025, this system is in early development and robots largely operate independently.ProductivityFoundation deployed the Phantom MK1 humanoid robot, which uses an onboard AI system to autonomously perform repetitive physical tasks — such as moving cases and racking car parts — in manufacturing and logistics facilities. The robot uses camera-based perception and a proprietary physics-action model to navigate environments and execute tasks without continuous human intervention.

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