Drone Dominance Program Receives First Orders as Gauntlet Phase II Qualification Concludes
The U.S. Drone Dominance Program's Gauntlet Phase II qualification event concluded last week at Camp Grayling, Michigan. The high-intensity exercise brought together 49 vendors fielding 79 distinct UAS types, with each vendor required to deploy 20 drones across demanding scenarios including long-range strike and close-quarters tactical assault missions. The program has also announced receipt of its first official orders.
Highlights
- The U.S. Drone Dominance Program's Gauntlet Phase II qualification event concluded at Camp Grayling, Michigan, with 49 vendors and 79 UAS types competing.
- Each participating vendor was required to field 20 drones across high-difficulty scenarios including long-range strike and close-quarters tactical assault missions.
- The Drone Dominance Program has received its first official orders, marking a significant procurement milestone for the U.S. military's small drone modernization effort.
- Gauntlet Phase II results will directly determine which vendors advance to subsequent procurement stages and are eligible for production contracts.
- The breadth of participation — 49 vendors, 79 airframe types — reflects the rapid growth of the U.S. domestic drone manufacturing sector and the military's push for supply chain diversification.
The U.S. Drone Dominance Program's Gauntlet Phase II qualification event wrapped up last week at Camp Grayling, Michigan, with the significant announcement that the program has received its first official orders.
A Rigorous Test at Scale
The qualification event was notable for its scale: 49 vendors brought 79 distinct unmanned aircraft system (UAS) types to compete, with each vendor required to field 20 drones across a series of mission challenges.
Test scenarios covered a range of demanding operational tasks, including:
- Long-range strike missions: evaluating drone range, precision, and reliability
- Close-quarters tactical assault: simulating combat applications in complex urban or indoor environments
- Additional high-difficulty mission scenarios designed to comprehensively assess the real-world operational capability of each system
First Orders Signal High Stakes Competition
Gauntlet Phase II is regarded as the critical gateway for vendors seeking placement on the U.S. military's drone procurement roster. With the program now confirming receipt of its first formal orders, participating vendors face unprecedented competitive pressure to distinguish themselves during testing in order to secure subsequent production contracts.
The Drone Dominance Program is designed to rapidly screen and procure commercially derived UAS with proven operational capability, addressing the U.S. military's growing demand for low-cost, high-performance small drones. Results from the Camp Grayling qualification will directly determine which vendors advance to the next stage of the procurement process.
Industry Takeaways
The participation of 49 vendors fielding 79 airframe types at a single event underscores the vitality of the domestic U.S. drone manufacturing sector and the military's commitment to building a diversified supply chain. Industry observers broadly expect the Drone Dominance Program's progression to accelerate the modernization of the U.S. Army's tactical UAS capabilities.
The list of qualifying vendors and details of the first batch of orders are expected to be officially announced in the near term.
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