The Department of War (DoW) is advancing its push to equip ground combat forces with low-cost, scalable one-way attack (OWA) small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). The department has released the request for solutions for Phase II of the Drone Dominance Program (DDP), an initiative backed by a $1.1bn overall budget to foster a resilient domestic supply chain.

Phase II will award a minimum of $300m in prototype delivery orders. The government intends to procure 30,000 drones across two specific mission profiles, with prices fixed at $4,500 per drone for long-range systems, $3,500 for close-quarters systems, and $3,250 per munition.

Rather than relying solely on paper proposals, the DDP evaluates actual system performance in operational scenarios. The competition is divided into four stages to test production readiness, military utility and supply chain resilience.

Mission areas and capabilities Vendors can submit applications for one or both of the following mission areas:

• Mission Area A (long range strike): Designed to find, fix and finish targets at extended ranges of 5-20km. These systems must operate beyond visual line of sight and carry a warhead of at least 2.0kg to strike anti-personnel, light armour and heavy armour targets.
• Mission Area B (tactical assault in close quarters): Focused on environments such as building interiors, trenches and tunnels at ranges of less than 2km. These drones must carry a payload of at least 0.5kg and be packable at the team and squad level.

Both mission areas demand operations in all weather conditions, low-light environments, and contested electromagnetic spectrums where radio frequency (RF) or global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) are jammed.

The four stages of competition The assessment process is designed to filter for mature and scalable systems:

• Stage 0 (application): Vendors must meet minimum pass/fail gateway requirements, including airworthiness and the integration of a reusable munitions trainer.
• Stage 1 (qualifier event): Expected to be held between 8 and 20 June 2026 at Camp Grayling, Michigan, this stage tests vendor-operated systems against core objectives. Approximately 10 vendors for each mission area will advance.
• Stage 2 (production and delivery test): To prove manufacturing capabilities, advancing vendors will receive a fixed-price order for 120 drones, along with durable system components and munitions. Timely delivery is a mandatory prerequisite for advancing to the next phase.
• Stage 3 (Gauntlet II): Held in late August 2026, this final stage involves dynamic, unscripted scenarios piloted exclusively by trained warfighters. Systems will be evaluated on flight performance, military operator feedback and production capabilities.

Following Gauntlet II, approximately five vendors from each mission area will receive prototype delivery orders. The top-ranked vendors will secure orders for up to 8,000 units, while the lowest advancing rank will receive orders for a minimum of 4,000 units.

Lethality and supply chain strictures A central component of Phase II is lethality. Vendors must integrate a full fire set, including an electronic safe and arm device (ESAD) or electro-mechanical safe and arm device (EMSAD), and pair with at least one munitions vendor. By the production and delivery test, lethal payloads must have Joint Services Weapon Systems Safety Review (JSWSR) approval or an approved waiver.

Furthermore, vendors must adhere to the DDP supply chain migration schedule. These standards are more restrictive than Phase I or the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), specifically demanding that batteries and motors must be sourced from non-covered, allied countries.

Future phases of the DDP will continue to escalate requirements. Phase III will introduce semi-persistent test environments with government-provided countermeasures, and Phase IV will test vendors’ ability to sustain rapid, continuous system improvement alongside high-volume production.