# Army Expands Small Drone Deployment

The U.S. Army is advancing its initiative to equip every infantry squad with small, one-way attack drones by the end of fiscal year 2026. Having already fielded 10,000 units, the Army plans to procure an additional 30,000 drones awarded through the Gauntlet II competition, involving vendors such as Perennial Autonomy and Neros. The current priority is to develop and implement comprehensive training programs to prepare soldiers to operate these drones effectively, particularly in contested electromagnetic environments. This effort includes interagency collaboration with the Defense Innovation Unit and the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure safe, realistic training at home stations like Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

- **Why this matters:** Procurement professionals should note the significant scale of drone acquisitions and the emphasis on operator training, indicating ongoing contract opportunities for drone manufacturers and training service providers.
- The involvement of multiple federal agencies highlights the complexity of integrating unmanned systems into operational units, requiring coordination across procurement, training, and regulatory compliance.
- Companies specializing in drone technology, electromagnetic warfare solutions, and military training simulations may find expanding opportunities aligned with the Army's modernization goals.
- The focus on realistic training environments suggests potential demand for advanced simulation technologies and interagency-approved training programs.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Contracting Vehicles, Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** September 18, 2026

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

### Vendors
- Perennial Autonomy (awardee)
- Neros (awardee)

### Key Quotes
> Provide our warfighters realistic training environments at their home stations. That way, the first time they experience that environment isnt  in a real combat environment.
> — Col. Gregory Merkl, Drone Dominance Director

### Sources
- [Army Moves to Equip Every Squad With Small Drones, Still Needs Trained Operators – MeriTalk](https://www.meritalk.com/articles/army-moves-to-equip-every-squad-with-small-drones-still-needs-trained-operators) - meritalk.com