WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense has solicited industry support for a massive expansion in domestic unmanned aerial systems (UAS) production, aiming to field a new generation of low-cost, one-way attack drones. Known as the Drone Dominance Program (DDP), the initiative plans to issue $1 billion in fixed-price orders over the next two years to accelerate growth of the U.S. industrial base. The program is structured into four phases, each beginning with a "Gauntlet" challenge where military operators will test vendor systems against mission scenarios, such as 10-kilometer strikes in open territory.
Breaking from traditional cost-plus contracting, the DoD intends to utilize commercial procurement models where the government pays only for units delivered and accepted, with no progress payments for development risk. The first phase is slated to begin with a Gauntlet on February 16, 2026, targeting the purchase of 30,000 units at $5,000 each from up to 12 vendors. The second phase, beginning in August 2026, the DoD plans to procure 60,000 units from up to 10 vendors. Procurement will scale to 100,000 for the third phase, but the projected unit cost drops to $3,000 and the pool of potential vendors shrinks to seven. Officials aim to increase acquisition to 150,000 units in the final phase, which concludes in January 2028, while driving the unit price down to $2,300.
To participate, vendors must ensure their systems are compliant with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and utilize secure supply chains. The DoD has requested industry feedback on manufacturing risks and timeline feasibility ahead of a formal Request for Solutions anticipated on December 17. Unlike typical competitions, this effort will not utilize a "down-select" process; vendors who fail to secure orders in earlier phases are encouraged to re-enter subsequent competitions.
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