# DIU Recruits Pilots for Gauntlet III

The Defense Innovation Unit is recruiting about 100 service members with first-person-view drone experience for Gauntlet III, the next phase of the **$1.1 billion Drone Dominance program**. The competition will evaluate small unmanned aircraft systems and help determine which systems advance toward military use and stockpiling. DIU says pilot performance matters to those decisions; the signal does not announce a new industry solicitation.

- Small-drone developers should evaluate how their systems perform with operators who have varied experience and skill levels, since Gauntlet results will inform which systems move forward.
- For procurement teams and prospective contractors, the competition is an indication of evaluation priorities in the Drone Dominance program, not an open solicitation or confirmed award opportunity.
- Erin Cherry, DIU program test lead, said the pilots are directly involved in producing results that inform system selection.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Published:** October 08, 2026

### Government Entities
- Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
- U.S. Army (Army)
- U.S. Marine Corps (USMC)

### Key Quotes
> Most importantly, Gauntlet results strongly inform which systems move forward, and these pilots are the ones flying.
> — Erin Cherry, program test lead

### Sources
- [Pentagon recruits drone pilots from across services for upcoming competition](https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2026/10/08/pentagon-recruits-drone-pilots-from-across-services-for-upcoming-competition) - Defense News