Gauntlet II evaluated drone systems in operationally realistic missions. Neros, ORQA US, XTEND, Vector and ModalAI posted the highest close-quarters battle scores as results feed into prototype contract decisions and follow-on orders.
Gauntlet II tested multiple mission categories—close-quarters battle, confined environments and deep strike—under the Drone Dominance Program, with results guiding prototype awards.
The Drone Dominance Program is run by the Defense Innovation Unit and the Test Resource Management Center, with contracting handled by Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division.
Gauntlet II was the latest evaluation under the U.S. Department of War's Drone Dominance Program, a $1 billion effort to build a U.S.-based supply chain for low-cost, one-way attack drones. The program runs operationally realistic tests across several mission categories and uses warfighter evaluations to decide which companies move forward to prototype contracts and initial orders.
Program released published scoring for the close-quarters battle category. The top five scores were:
XTEND Reality said it delivered and demonstrated 120 STRIKER systems for the evaluation. XTEND positions STRIKER on its XOS operating system, which the company describes as designed for tactical missions in confined, complex and GNSS-denied environments.
Vector posted that its selection in Gauntlet II came with orders for up to 5,000 drone systems. Vector also said it received orders for its high-voltage electronic safe-and-arm device (HV-ESAD), hardware that enables safe arming of drones with different munitions. Vector noted it is the only U.S. company to win awards in Gauntlet II for both unmanned systems and arming hardware.
Unit (DIU) and the Test Resource Management Center (TRMC). The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, is the contracting authority. The program's public description frames Gauntlet II results as the input to decisions about which firms receive prototype contracts and production orders. Program allocation numbers mentioned in the related coverage set a combined allocation across certain mission areas at 60,000 units.
Gauntlet II is an operational evaluation that pairs industry systems with warfighter assessments across realistic mission profiles. Scores determine which companies advance toward prototype contracts and production orders. The program emphasizes a U.S.-based supply chain and low-cost, one-way attack drones, which explains the program's interest in delivery speed, manufacturability and hardware such as safe-and-arm devices.
Gauntlet II required companies to deliver 120 armed drones in about five weeks for testing at Fort Carson. The post Drone Dominance Program Selects Top Five Companies for 60,000-Drone Order first appeared on Executive Gov .
Allen Control Systems, Digital Force, DroneShield, L3Harris WESCAM, Napatree, RADA Technologies and SRC each received $500 million.
But there’s room for more—up to $7 billion.
Steve LeVine / The Information : Nine drone startups, including Eric Schmidt-founded Perennial, will split US DoD orders for 60,000 drones in a competition that requires no China-made parts — Last month, the Pentagon threw up its arms in frustration (metaphorically speaking) when most of the drone startups in competiti
Michigan drone maker Swarm Defense Technologies has received an order for 4,000 Kiwi one-way attack drones under the U.S. Department of War’s Drone Dominance Program, the company announced Sept. 22. The prototype delivery order has a minimum value of $25 million, including munitions, which works out to about $6,250 per
US Army paratroopers jump out of a USAF C-130J Super Hercules during Operation Orient Shield 26 Joint Airborne drop at Kita-Dalen Training area in Eniwa, Hokkaido, Tuesday. — AFP
Loading more related stories...
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.