Drones and Unmanned Systems - Air, Sea, Land, Micro & Robot Systems

RESTON, Virginia -- CACI International has received the first task order under a three year, $500 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract to provide its SkyValor counter unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) to the U.S. government's Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401) for deployment at strategic locations supporting national security operations.

The award initiates deliveries of SkyValor systems designed to detect, track, identify, and defeat small unmanned aircraft systems. According to CACI, the systems will be deployed to critical mission sites in support of efforts to protect U.S. military forces, government facilities, borders, and other sensitive infrastructure from increasingly capable drone threats.

The task order follows a series of operational evaluations conducted by JIATF-401 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. During the testing, SkyValor was assessed against a range of small unmanned aerial system threats operating beyond visual line of sight. CACI stated that the evaluations demonstrated the system's ability to provide earlier warning through extended detection ranges, allowing operators additional time to respond compared with shorter range counter-drone systems. Based on the testing, JIATF-401 approved the system for operational deployment.

The company also announced that completion of the operational evaluations has enabled SkyValor to enter full rate production.

The latest award follows an earlier contract issued through JIATF-401's Commercial Solutions Opening program for four SkyValor systems. That effort includes a mobile configuration mounted on a heavy duty truck, providing a transportable counter-drone capability for deployment to areas facing elevated unmanned aircraft threats.

SkyValor integrates sensors and automated counter-drone technologies to detect, classify, track, and defeat hostile unmanned aircraft, including drones that rely on cellular communications.

The contract reflects the Department of Defense's continued investment in fielding operational counter-unmanned aircraft capabilities as small drones become more widely available and increasingly employed in military operations, border security missions, and attacks on critical infrastructure. The transition of SkyValor from operational testing to production indicates that U.S. government agencies are moving beyond experimentation toward broader deployment of layered counter-drone systems.

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: https://www.caci.com/

notice seeking vendors for air-launched, one-way attack drones equipped with automatic target recognition. Managed by Program Executive Office-Fixed Wing (PEO-Fixed Wing), the market research focuses on Group 1 and Group 2 unmanned aerial systems designed to fit within common launch tubes. The latest notice refines requirements from a previous solicitation issued in June by focusing strictly on tube-launched options for fixed-wing aircraft and establishing a lower maximum munition weight of 55 pounds. The June solicitation included other launch methods and payloads up to 95 pounds.

Key performance specifications include a minimum range of 75 nautical miles, deployment altitudes up to 35,000 feet, cruise speeds of 50 to 100 knots, and a minimum "dash speed" exceeding 100 knots. Vendors must also offer alternative position, navigation, and timing technologies to operate in contested environments. Technology evaluations will feature a flight demonstration on an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship or similar SOF platform, with production planning considering procurement quantities of 500, 1,000, or 3,000 units. Industry white papers are due Aug. 17.

Source: Defense Scoop
Associated URL: https://defensescoop.com/2026/07/17/air-commandos-attack-drones-automatic-target-recognition/

WASHINGTON - The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) issued a solicitation for the Suitable Warfighting Adaptive Payloads (SWAP-USV) project, a year-long competition offering $100 million in prize money. The program is designed to address asymmetric maritime threats, such as unmanned craft, small drones, smuggling vessels, and semi-submersibles. The initiative seeks market-ready unmanned surface vessels integrated with two or more mature aerial drones capable of carrying a combined kinetic payload of at least 2 kilograms. Solicitations require system designs to fit within standard cargo containers, road trailers, or C-17 and C-130 transport aircraft. Responses are due by Aug. 10.

The project is structured into three rolling phases, or "sprints," aimed at accelerating fielding while offering successful vendors access to a separate $200 million procurement budget. Sprint 1 carries a $40 million prize pool for systems capable of in-water testing in fall 2026 and operational deployment within 120 days, requiring selected participants to provide a testable mission-ready platform within 29 days of down-selection. Sprint 2 ($40 million) and Sprint 3 ($20 million) will follow with in-water testing in early and summer 2027, respectively, focusing on expanded payloads, upgraded autonomy, and multi-vendor systems integration.

Source: Military Times
Associated URL: https://www.militarytimes.com/industry/techwatch/2026/07/29/pentagon-puts-out-call-for-robot-boats-that-launch-attack-drones/