25 Manufacturers to Compete in Pentagon’s $150M Drone Dominance ‘Gauntlet’

DOD selects participants for upcoming series of uncrewed aircraft system evaluations by military operators.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, February 04, 2026 at 02:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Marine Corps Corporal Calvin Burke activates a small drone to survey the defensive line for opposing forces during a simulated assault and seizure at Glen Airfield (YGEN) in Queensland, Australia, in July 2025. [Credit: Marine Corps Lance Corporal Victor Gurrola]

Key Takeaways:

The Pentagon's $1.1 billion "Drone Dominance" program aims to acquire 340,000 low-cost, one-way attack drones by 2027, starting at approximately $5,000 per unit and targeting further price reductions.
Twenty-five manufacturers will compete in Phase I, starting next month, for $150 million in orders for 30,000 drones, with evaluations designed to significantly shorten procurement cycles from years to months.
The initiative, driven by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, seeks to boost domestic industrial capacity, streamline drone acquisition for military units, and counter adversaries' drone capabilities while limiting the use of foreign-produced drones.

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Twenty-five manufacturers of small, low-cost uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) will compete next month for about $150 million in orders from the Pentagon.

The Department of Defense on Tuesday announced the participants for Phase I of its Drone Dominance program, under which it plans to order 30,000 one-way attack drones at about $5,000 per unit. By the time the multiphase, $1.1 billion effort wraps up in 2027, the Pentagon aims to deliver about 340,000 small drones to military combat units, driving down costs as the effort progresses.