Defense Department evaluates systems from multiple companies through “Gauntlet” Trials
The U.S. Department of Defense is ordering approximately 30,000 small one-way attack drones following combat-readiness testing conducted at Fort Benning, Georgia. The tests were part of the Pentagon’s Drone Dominance initiative, in which military personnel evaluated unmanned systems from about 25 companies under simulated combat conditions.
Program manager Travis Metz told the Senate Armed Services Committee that service members from the Army, Marine Corps, and special operations units assessed the drones’ performance after limited training and recommended which systems would be suitable for operational use.
“We are not being prescriptive with the companies about how they solve those challenges, because we want the entrepreneurs, both that we’re bringing in from outside of the United States and the entrepreneurs in the U.S. to innovate across those particular problems,” Director Metz said.
Defense officials told legislators on Capitol Hill that the initial purchases could total roughly $150 million, with the Pentagon working to reduce unit costs over time. The program follows a 2025 directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calling for expanded use of small drones within U.S. military units.
Senators Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut raised questions about the pace of development compared with ongoing drone innovation in other conflicts. A second testing phase involving electronic warfare and communications-denied environments is expected to begin later in 2026.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Hegseth as he encourages Pentagon personnel to modernize technology and acquisition.
- For Director Metz and members of the Drone Dominance initiative as they oversee the procurement of the one-way drones.
- For God’s protection for service members as they utilize innovative systems in combat environments.
- For senators and representatives as they work to provide oversight for new technologies.
Sources: Breaking Defense,
