Pentagon Launches Drone Competition to Guide Future Purchases
The U.S. military held a drone competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, on May 27, 2026. The event tested first-person view drones for potential acquisition under a $1.1 billion program.
suasnews.comThe Pentagon has launched a competition series to determine which drones the military purchases. The program, called Drone Dominance Gauntlet, carries a $1.1 billion budget and seeks to close a gap in the U.S. military's inventory of first-person view drones.
Military drone pilots operated quadcopters through abandoned buildings and pine forests at the Georgia site. The drones flew one-way missions and struck mannequins dressed in military clothing.
The competition is part of an effort to evaluate explosive drones for possible purchase. Organizers stated the trials will help guide future acquisition decisions. The U.S. military has observed increased use of first-person view drones in recent conflicts. Officials said the new program aims to address that trend.
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Results may influence which drone models the Pentagon purchases.
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