“The Gauntlet” is launching Phase I of the Drone Dominance Program, with a $150 million investment in prototypes.
The Pentagon released a list of 25 companies that will compete in the “Drone Dominance Program.” This four-phase program was launched last year by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. It aims to field low-cost, unmanned, one-way attack drones at a larger scale for the U.S. military. The announcement of the competition between vendors is the kick-off for Phase I.
The evaluation of different vendors’ drones, referred to as “the Gauntlet,” is expected to begin on February 18 at Fort Benning, Georgia. Military drone operators will then fly and evaluate the different equipment through early March. Following this, the Defense Department is expected to begin ordering upwards of $150 million worth of prototypes over the following months.
The Pentagon is expected to spend over $1 billion across all four phases of the Drone Dominance Program, and anticipates having hundreds of thousands of one-way attack drones ready for combat by 2027.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Hegseth as he leads the Defense Department and oversees the Drone Defense Program.
- For U.S. defense officials as they assess the vendors and evaluate who will participate in “the Gauntlet.”
- For the ongoing safety of those serving in the U.S. military in all different capacities.
Sources: Defense Scoop, Department of Defense
