# U.S. Army Advances Drone Training After Procurement

The U.S. Army has completed procurement of over 12,000 small drones, equipping every squad under the Pentagon's Drone Dominance program, with a total of 24,320 drones acquired through the initial Gauntlet 1 contracts. The Army is now prioritizing training soldiers to operate these drones effectively, especially in contested electromagnetic spectrum environments, to maximize operational readiness. Future procurement plans include an expected order of 60,000 additional drone platforms from Gauntlet 2 competition winners, signaling ongoing investment in unmanned aerial systems.

- The Army's shift from procurement to training highlights a critical phase where contractor support and training solutions will be in demand to ensure soldier proficiency.
- Procurement professionals should note the scale of drone acquisitions and anticipate opportunities related to training services, system integration, and operational support.
- The involvement of 11 prime contractors in Gauntlet 1 indicates a competitive vendor landscape that may expand with Gauntlet 2 awards.
- Locations such as Hohenfels, Germany, are key sites for training exercises, suggesting geographic considerations for deployment and support contracts.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Contracting Vehicles
**Published:** September 17, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Army (Army)
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

### Vendors
- 11 companies (prime contractors for Gauntlet 1 drone supply)

### Key Quotes
> I think if you look across the force, you have that capability in every platoon. We still have a little bit of work to do in terms of getting the qualified pilots down to the squad level.
> — Col. Gregory Merkl, Drone Dominance Director

### Sources
- [Army has enough drones for each unit, now it needs to train soldiers to use them - Breaking Defense](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/army-has-enough-drones-for-each-unit-now-it-needs-to-train-soldiers-to-use-them) - Breaking Defense