The Pentagon has invited 17 companies to compete in October for orders of up to 1,200 reusable bomber drones at $20,000 each. The Drone Dominance Program named them on 21 September. The qualifier is at Camp Grayling, Michigan.
The programme’s first two rounds bought one-way attack drones, which are destroyed with their target. This round, which the programme calls Mission C, wants a drone that drops its munitions and flies home. It must carry at least 8 kg, as two or more munitions, to targets 15 to 30 km away. The solicitation expects each drone to survive at least 30 missions, and prefers 150.
The money is small by the programme’s standards. The solicitation puts Mission C at an estimated $30 million, out of $1.1 billion for the whole programme. First place can sell up to 600 drones, second 400 and third 200. No order will be for fewer than 200.
Four of the 17 are Ukrainian drone makers or their American arms. Grim Tech and Gurzuf Defence both build drones for Ukraine’s forces; Gurzuf says its Heavy Shot carries up to 40 kg at 20 km. UFORCE USA belongs to UFORCE, a London-registered group formed from nine Ukrainian defence firms, which sells a reusable bomber called Nemesis. UDD Tech represents Ukraine’s F-Drones and plans a plant in Holland, Ohio, according to Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur.
The rules make room for them. Entry is open to companies based in the United States or allied nations, with preference for those that can build in the US from US parts. The application asks whether the system has been used “in Ukraine or other combat areas”.
The rest of the list is mixed. Skycutter, the British firm that topped the programme’s first round, is back, as is Swarm Defense, fifth for deep strike in the last round. AIRO Group, listed on Nasdaq, announced its place on 23 September.
W.S. Darley, an Illinois supplier of fire and emergency equipment, is on it. So is Obscurity Labs, a Virginia software and cyber firm.
About eight companies will pass the qualifier, each with a $150,000 order for six drones. Roughly 48 hours later, military operators fly them in a second test, and about three win prototype orders. Half of each order is due within two and a half months.
