Pentagon’s Drone Dominance Program: 25 Companies Compete in “Gauntlet I”

The Pentagon’s New Initiative for Rapid Deployment of Attack Drones

In an ambitious move to enhance military capabilities, the Pentagon has unveiled a program involving 25 small technology and drone enterprises to swiftly deploy low-cost attack drones. These companies will be part of the Defense Department’s new initiative, the Drone Dominance Program, which aims to deliver thousands of one-way attack drones for military use.

Among the companies participating are Kratos SRE Inc., a Kratos Defense subsidiary, and Halo Aeronautics, competing in this initial phase called “Gauntlet.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the necessity of this program, stating, “Drone dominance is a process race as much as a technological race. We are buying what works — fast, at scale, and without bureaucratic delay. Lethality will not be hindered by self-imposed restrictions.”

This initiative follows a June 2025 executive order by President Donald Trump, focusing on enhancing U.S. military and commercial drone capacities with an emphasis on cost-effective, domestically-produced combat drones. The evaluation phase is set to commence on February 18 at Fort Benning, Georgia, concluding in early March. Post-evaluation, around $150 million will be allocated for prototype drone orders.

The Pentagon plans to procure and deliver these prototypes over five months, with an initial goal of 30,000 drones at $5,000 each. The overarching goal of Hegseth’s program is to acquire hundreds of thousands of attack drones by 2027, providing a more economical alternative to costly munitions currently in use.

Ukraine’s recent deployment of “kamikaze” drones in its defense against Russia has demonstrated the strategic value of these drones in modern warfare. Hegseth noted the critical nature of developing a more affordable drone arsenal to counteract enemy threats.

Over the program’s four phases, the Pentagon plans to spend $1.1 billion, with a focus on having military personnel test and evaluate prospective drones. The program’s structure will see the initial 12 vendors reduced to 5, with drone production escalating to 150,000 units at $2,300 each. This approach aims to foster a stable demand, encouraging industry growth in capacity.

The companies involved in “Gauntlet I” include: