Pentagon Announces $450 Million Drone Dominance Competition and Gauntlet 2.5 Update
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- Dronelife.com
The Pentagon's Drone Dominance Program is set to initiate a significant competition, aiming to procure around 60,000 one-way attack drones under a $450 million Phase III initiative. This initiative also includes a delay of the Gauntlet 2.5 competition for reusable bomber drones until early November, reflecting the Pentagon's commitment to enhancing domestic drone production and expediting military procurement.
This competition is crucial as it underscores the Pentagon's strategy to bolster its drone capabilities, with the initial purchase split between Deep Strike and Close-Quarters Battle mission categories. The fixed prices for the drones are set at $5,000 for Deep Strike and $3,000 for Close-Quarters Battle, excluding munitions. The program emphasizes manufacturing capacity, requiring applicants to demonstrate the ability to produce at least 8,000 drones within five months.
Looking ahead, Gauntlet III testing is anticipated in March 2027, with the Phase III initiative introducing stricter operational requirements. The Pentagon seeks drones capable of functioning in challenging environments, including disrupted satellite navigation. The competition will invite a limited number of companies to participate, with a focus on innovative and efficient drone solutions.
Original report
Pentagon Details $450 Million Drone Dominance Competition as Gauntlet 2.5 Moves to November
Dronelife.com · Miriam McNabbThis briefing is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting and is provided for industry information and news discovery. The original report and source publication are credited and linked where applicable. RobotToday does not claim ownership of third-party source material.
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