The US Department of Defense has officially moved 19 companies into the “Gauntlet II” stage of its $1.1 billion Drone Dominance program. This initiative aims to secure a massive inventory of 60,000 small-class, one-way attack unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to bolster rapid strike capabilities.
According to The Defense Post, the selection followed a rigorous qualification event at Camp Grayling, Michigan, where 49 manufacturers tested 79 different platforms. The trials prioritized operational effectiveness in both daytime and nighttime missions, specifically targeting long-range strike scenarios and tactical operations in urban environments.
In the upcoming Gauntlet II phase, scheduled for August at Fort Carson, Colorado, each of the 19 selected firms must deliver 120 kamikaze drones equipped with live-fire lethality payloads within a five-week window. The objective is to verify that these manufacturers can sustain high-volume production under simulated wartime conditions.
The Pentagon is pairing these drone manufacturers with approved payload suppliers, including major defense contractors like Northrop Grumman Systems and specialized firms such as Bravo Ordnance and Kraken Kinetics. By utilizing primarily US-based supply chains, the Department of Defense intends to ensure rapid assembly and delivery. Following the August trials, the highest-performing companies will be awarded prototype production contracts, marking a significant expansion in the military’s expendable combat drone inventory.