February Drone Digest: US manufacturers face the Gauntlet and find success abroad
Through the DDP, the Trump administration is aiming to bolster US drone manufacturing to arm combat units with low-cost attack UAVs. (Photo: US Department of Defense)
The US launched the Gauntlet test in February as part of its accelerated attack drone procurement effort while also exploring various naval capabilities that could lead to procurements down the line. Shield AI’s V-Bat, meanwhile, has been stirring up global interest.
Earlier this month, the Pentagon issued an update on the Drone Dominance Program (DDP), a US$1.1 billion effort to acquire hundreds of thousands of first-person view (FPV) attack drones. The initiative is the tentpole programme under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s push to increase the number of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the US armed forces.
The Pentagon announced that 25 companies were participating in an event dubbed “the Gauntlet”, which would see military operators flying and evaluating low-cost UAVs to help determine which companies would receive a share of $150 million in prototype delivery orders, to be awarded in March.
Later, the
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Air Warfare
-
![First confirmed US one‑way drone strike on Iran sharpens Pentagon UAV expansion]()
First confirmed US one‑way drone strike on Iran sharpens Pentagon UAV expansion
The US is currently escalating its efforts to acquire more than 300,000 low-cost one-way attack drones, with the confirmed use of these platforms against Iran in recent days emphasising their growing use in combat.
-
![UK MoD awards Leonardo with £1 billion New Medium Helicopter contract]()
UK MoD awards Leonardo with £1 billion New Medium Helicopter contract
The £1 billion contract has secured jobs at Leonardo’s Yeovil site and will provide the British forces with 23 new medium-lift helicopters.
-
![NSPA outlines next steps for NATO’s Next-Generation Rotorcraft Capability effort]()
NSPA outlines next steps for NATO’s Next-Generation Rotorcraft Capability effort
The NATO agency gave further updates on the next stages of its rotorcraft programme and timelines for the next three years, with the initiative aimed at replacing ageing medium-lift helicopters in various NATO countries.
-
![UK’s New Medium Helicopter deal finalisation on horizon, alludes Leonardo CEO]()
UK’s New Medium Helicopter deal finalisation on horizon, alludes Leonardo CEO
A potential announcement within days could end speculation around the UK Ministry of Defence’s procurement direction for the NMH programme.
