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U.S. Army Seeks $994 Million for Small Counter-Drone Systems in Fiscal 2027 Request
The Army's fiscal 2027 budget proposal nearly doubles small cUAS procurement funding from the prior year, emphasizing a systems-of-systems approach that ranges from individual soldier protection to base defense. All $994 million would come from discretionary spending as the service expands capabilities against Group 1 and 2 threats.
May 15, 9:36 AM·3m read1 source
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U.S. Army plans to spend $994 million in procurement funding on small counter unmanned aerial system technology in its fiscal 2027 budget request, nearly double the enacted FY26 budget for the same line item. The enacted FY26 budget included $596 million for small cUAS, of which $336 million derived from discretionary spending and $260 million from mandatory or reconciliation funding.
5 trillion. The Army is using a systems of systems architecture for its small counter-drone capabilities that includes expeditionary and mobile platforms, sensors, effectors, electronic warfare components and an interoperable fire control system.
The service plans to allocate funds across eight distinct areas, according to its budget justification books. The largest share, $414 million, is earmarked for operational small cUAS capabilities including c-UAS batteries, expeditionary mobile platforms and sensors.
Another $165 million is designated for fixed small cUAS capabilities for homeland defense, fixed sites defense, base or installation defense, and logistics support.
The topic of using counter-drone measures to protect bases and installations has been prominent in recent months due to challenges between the Defense Department and the Federal Aviation Administration on capabilities to shoot down threatening drones.
The Army plans to allocate $132 million for effectors and is planning to procure 800 kinetic capabilities, 29 non-kinetic capabilities and 24 Next Generation cUAS Missiles. The Next Generation cUAS Missile is also known as the Freedom Eagle-1 and is a kinetic platform made by Aerovironment.
