Pentagon seeks low-cost drones for challenging combat environments

The US Department of Defense is actively seeking innovative solutions from the private sector to enhance its unmanned aerial capabilities.

Thus, the Department of Defense is seeking low-cost, one-way long-range unmanned aerial systems that can function in "disrupted, disconnected, intermittent, low-bandwidth" (DDIL) environments, as indicated by a recent solicitation from the Defense Innovation Unit. This request highlights the significant impact that affordable drones have had in modern combat scenarios, particularly in Ukraine's ongoing conflict with Russia and the rising tensions in the Middle East. Earlier this year, the US also authorized the sale of hundreds of similar aerial vehicles to Taiwan, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

In addition to being suitable for DDIL conditions, these drones need to operate effectively in environments where Global Navigation Satellite Systems are unavailable, carry a minimum payload of 10 kilograms (preferably over 25 kg), and have a range of at least 50 kilometres, with an ideal target of 300 km. The Pentagon has not set a specific number of drones to procure or established a spending cap for this initiative, according to a DIU spokesperson who spoke to Breaking Defense.

The focus is on acquiring capabilities rather than custom hardware, ensuring that the systems can receive quick software updates to maintain combat readiness in an evolving Electronic Warfare landscape. The spokesperson noted that while there is no limit on the number of vendors, collaborations between commercial partners for a single contract award are possible, subject to offered capabilities and budget constraints. 

The department aims to "move aggressively" during the competition process, with plans to finalize contracts with selected companies by mid-January, according to the spokesperson. They also noted that all contract requirements are expected to be completed by the end of May 2025. Additionally, the Pentagon is seeking drones that can seamlessly integrate third-party software and hardware in a "modular, warm-swappable manner." The solicitation specifies that "proprietary interfaces, message formatting, or hardware requiring vendor-specific licensing are not allowed." 

When asked whether this solicitation is connected to the Pentagon's broader Replicator program—an initiative to deploy thousands of low-cost, disposable unmanned systems across various domains to address threats in the Indo-Pacific—the DIU spokesperson stated, "We have no announcements regarding any links between this effort and Replicator." Earlier this year, the US also authorized the sale of hundreds of similar aerial vehicles to Taiwan.

By Naila Huseynova