The US defence division has chosen 11 tech companies to construct its subsequent era of low-cost, disposable drones, marking a definite pivot in the direction of Silicon Valley-style mass manufacturing.
Final week, the Pentagon concluded “Gauntlet I” at Fort Moore (previously Fort Benning), Georgia. The competitors served as an accelerated subject take a look at for defence contractors vying for a share of a $150m (£117m) preliminary order to fabricate 30,000 “one-way assault” drones—army terminology for what are successfully low-cost loitering munitions.
Pushed by a latest government order aimed toward increasing US drone capabilities, and overseen by defence secretary Pete Hegseth, the programme displays classes drawn from latest attritional conflicts in Ukraine and the Center East. The initiative goals to bypass conventional, multi-year procurement forms, with a acknowledged objective of stockpiling over 300,000 of those programs by 2027.
Corporations had been scored primarily based on Gauntlet I efficiency, army operator evaluations, and manufacturing and provide chain capabilities.
The Drone Dominance Program chosen the High 11 performers to obtain orders.
| Rank | Firm | Factors |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skycutter | 99.3 |
| 2 | Neros | 87.5 |
| 3 | Napatree | 80.3 |
| 4 | ModalAI | 77.7 |
| 5 | Auterion | 77.0 |
| 6 | Ukrainian Protection Drones (UDD) | 72.9 |
| 7 | Griffon Aerospace | 72.0 |
| 8 | Nokturnal AI | 70.3 |
| 9 | Halo Aeronautics | 70.2 |
| 10 | Ascent Aerosystems | 70.1 |
| 11 | Farage Precision | 70.0 |
The next corporations, listed in alphabetical order, accomplished in Gauntlet 1 however didn’t rank within the High 11.
The Drone Dominance Program continues to work intently with these corporations for Blue Listing accession. We thank these corporations for his or her participation and sit up for them competing sooner or later.
| Anno AI |
| Draganfly |
| DZYNE Applied sciences |
| Ewing Aerospace |
| Firestorm Labs |
| Common Cherry |
| Greensight |
| Paladin Protection Companies |
| Efficiency Drone Works |
| Swarm Protection Applied sciences |
| Teal Drones |
| Titan Dynamics |
| Vector Protection |
| W.S. Darley |
| XTEND Actuality |
The highest 11 corporations are finalists for prototype contracts. Awards aren’t assured. All drones should cross NDAA/Blue UAS compliance verification by the DCMA.
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