Drone Dominance Program: Pentagon selects eleven suppliers for "Gauntlet 2"

With the Drone Dominance Program (DDP), the US Department of Defense launched a procurement reform in February. It aims to massively accelerate the production and deployment of low-cost, single-use first-person view (FPV) attack drones. Around 300,000 drones are to be delivered to the US armed forces by 2027.

Phase 1 is called "Gauntlet 1". From February, 30,000 drones were ordered from 25 selected suppliers at a unit price of 4,300 euros; they are described as systems with limited range and limited capabilities. Of the Gauntlet 1 participants, 75 per cent did not come from the traditional defence industry.

Three missions in the test

In the test, the drones had to complete various mission profiles. Mission 1 required hits on targets at distances of 2.5, five, 7.5 and ten kilometres. Mission 2 consisted of first hitting two targets in the open simultaneously and then a target inside a building. In both cases, military personnel were involved.

Mission 3, a "Kinetic Strike" challenge, was optional: pilots from the drone manufacturers flew their first-person view (FPV) drones to demonstrate dynamic target engagement and the use of payloads in real time. The platform's manoeuvrability, communication link and precision control were assessed while it carried out a kinetic attack.

Drone Dominance Program: eleven companies in phase two

By early May, the Pentagon had received at least 50 per cent of the drones ordered; everything must be delivered by July 2026. The companies were assessed on their performance in "Gauntlet 1", the assessments of military personnel and their production and supply chain capacities.

The eleven best companies in the "Drone Dominance Program" have been selected and can expect further orders: Skycutter, Neros, Napatree, ModalAI, Auterion, Ukrainian Defense Drones (UDD), Griffon Aerospace, Nokturnal AI, Halo Aeronautics, Ascent Aerosystems and Farage Precision. They scored between 70 and 99.3 out of a possible 100 points.

"Gauntlet 2" is scheduled for August. The eleven suppliers will then receive orders for 70,000 drones at 3,450 euros each, which are required to offer greater range and better capabilities. To protect the domestic supply chain, motors and batteries from abroad are excluded.

"Gauntlet 3" follows in early 2027 with 100,000 drones from five suppliers; in "Gauntlet 4", 150,000 drones are to be ordered from an expected three to five suppliers for just under 2,000 euros. Order quantities thus rise step by step, while costs fall and capabilities increase. In doing so, the US military is deliberately departing from the Pentagon's traditional business development processes.