What to expect at AFCEA West 2026: Latent AI delivers interoperable AI for unmatched advantage

AFCEA West 2026 gathers sea service leaders to tackle Sustaining Maritime Dominance: Warfighting Readiness for the Future Fight. This year, Latent AI stands ready to show how interoperable edge AI turns challenges into advantages. We focus on edge AI solutions that run anywhere, adapt fast, and deliver real-time intelligence right where operators need it most.

Latent AI shows up with exactly that. Our live demonstrations prove that edge AI thrives on diverse hardware, processes data locally, and stays operational in denied conditions. We combine our interoperable AI layer with Sigma Defense’s Olympus orchestration to automate secure delivery and sustainment, and showcase hardware-agnostic edge AI running live on Abaco Systems’ mission hardware.

Join us in San Diego, February 10-12, to see our interoperable, adaptive AI. You’ll find us in three spots on the exhibit floor: the Latent AI booth 4306, the Sigma Defense booth 1133, and the Abaco Systems booth 2315.

Live demos: Tracking that works anywhere

We are showcasing our optimized tracking solution running live on partner hardware. AI tracking is managed on-site (or in the field for forward operators) via our Latent Field Tactical Suite (FTS). Latent FTS includes a user-facing AI pipeline that enables tactical teams to deploy, update, and fine-tune our edge AI models in the field. 

Here’s what you’ll see in the demo:

• Input from real-world sensors: Latent FTS ingests live EO/IR video from a wide range of hardware, including Abaco ruggedized systems. Designed to run in aerial UAVs, providing live footage capturing moving objects in tough conditions, including low light.
• Detection and lock-on: The user reviews frame-by-frame detections and selects an object of interest. The AI quickly identifies vehicles, people, vessels, or other key targets.
• Persistent tracking in motion: Once locked, the model follows the object in real time. Users see precise mask overlays that clearly highlight targets, even in low-light conditions. It maintains the track even if the target slips behind cover, changes speed, or blends into the background.
• Clear, actionable visuals: Users see precise mask overlays that highlight targets, even in low-light conditions.

All of this happens locally on the hardware in real time to enable mission autonomy at the tactical edge. The AI assigns a confidence score to each detection, forecasts the object’s next move based on speed and trajectory, and refines tracks frame by frame. Users get instantaneous, seamless feedback.

Why this demo matters

We extend the work demonstrated under Project AMMO, where we proved that our edge AI models run efficiently on constrained devices with low power and limited compute. On AMMO, we enable model updates 97% faster than traditional approaches. Today, our Latent FTS fine-tunes models in the field in minutes. 

The Latent FTS tracking solution maintains persistent tracking autonomously. This reduces operator workload and speeds up decision-making. Edge AI handles analysis on the device without reliance on distant servers or higher echelons.

Most importantly, our hardware-agnostic design lets these capabilities deploy across platforms—from airborne UAVs and naval systems to wearable gear. This supports consistent performance and easier integration in varied missions.

Partnerships that power interoperability

We demonstrate this strength through collaborations with Abaco Systems and Sigma Defense.

• With Abaco Systems: See our tracking run natively on ruggedized systems running Intel Xeon and NVIDIA GPUs. This shows how our models adapt to customizable setups without proprietary tweaks—future-proofing for upgrades and open-architecture wins.
• With Sigma Defense: Experience how the Olympus software mobility platform automates software distribution, including our Latent Runtime, a MOSA-built, reusable runtime on edge nodes. Olympus automates updates and sustainment in DDIL zones, closing the “last mile” for tactical operators.

These partnerships prove interoperable, and adaptive AI is an unmatched advantage. Latent AI provides edge solutions designed to plug into any ecosystem, scale across domains, and equip warfighters with modular, easy-to-use tools.

Learn more about each integration here:

• Better Together: Latent AI + Sigma Defense → Read the blog
• Better Together: Latent AI + Abaco Systems → Read the blog

Stop by and see it for yourself

Visit Latent AI at AFCEA West to connect with our team, watch the demos, and discuss how interoperable edge AI strengthens your missions. Find us at the Latent AI booth 4306, the Sigma Defense booth 1133, and the Abaco Systems booth 2315.

Whether you focus on ISR, tactical autonomy, or resilient C5ISR, we’ll show you how our solutions deliver speed, reliability, and adaptability where it matters most. Don’t miss your chance to experience the future of edge AI firsthand.