# U.S. Military Considers Rapid Drone Trials

Breaking Defense proposes adding recurring, competition-based experiments to accelerate military drone adaptation, separate from the existing Drone Dominance Program Gauntlets. The proposed trials would expose systems to changing threats and reward teams that can rapidly design, manufacture, contract, deliver, and train users on successive generations. The article does not identify a new solicitation, contract value, or procurement contact, so this is a potential direction for future testing rather than a currently announced opportunity.

- The Drone Dominance Program Gauntlets are cited as an existing competitive testing effort; the proposed addition would emphasize rapid iteration and adaptation to changing threats.
- Defense contractors may benefit from demonstrating end-to-end speed—from system design and production through contracting, delivery, and training—not just platform performance in a single test.
- Procurement teams can use the proposal as a signal to assess how future competitive evaluations might reward rapid upgrades and repeated delivery; no specific acquisition timeline or requirement is provided.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Published:** November 12, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Army (Army)
- Threat Systems Management Office (TSMO)
- Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)
- Department of the Air Force (DAF)
- Department of War

### Sources
- [Cry ‘drone,’ and let slip the fruit flies of war - Breaking Defense](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/11/cry-drone-and-let-slip-the-fruit-flies-of-war) - Breaking Defense