The big five
Why it matters: Since July 2025, the Pentagon has rebuilt how it buys drones. It now runs on marketplaces, test-then-buy competitions and a key compliance credential. Relationships still help, but test data, compliance and delivery now decide most awards.1,11,28
1
The key trust credential: the Blue List.
The Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), through its US-X office, has run it since Dec. 3, 2025. Not every drone sale requires it. Drone Dominance rejects deliveries that aren't Blue-listed, GSA awards only Blue-listed drones, and Blue status is one of the two current exemptions from the FCC's foreign-drone ban.15,47,56,11
In plain words: the government keeps a list of drones and parts it trusts. Get on it.
2
Marketplaces are now major buying channels.
The Army Drone Marketplace opened Mar. 24, 2026, under a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) that stays open indefinitely. Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401) runs a counter-drone (C-UAS) marketplace on an existing Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, hosted on the Common Hardware Systems catalog (1,600+ items overall).28,31,19
In plain words: you get listed once, then units shop.
3
Test, then buy at a fixed price.
Drone Dominance Phase 3 will spend $450M on about 60,000 one-way attack drones at prices the government sets ($5,000 deep strike, $3,000 close quarters). Delivery matters more than the score: as of Sept. 10, the Gauntlet I winner had 0 drones accepted.14,11
In plain words: the government names the price. You win by delivering.
4
Only some of the money is real.
Count money Congress has already passed: fiscal year 2026 (FY26) funds and money from the 2025 reconciliation law. The $53.6B mandatory FY27 "Drone Dominance" ask needs another reconciliation bill. The government is funded by a Continuing Resolution (CR) through Dec. 11.7,11,25,6
In plain words: requested is not funded. See "Read the money."
5
The buyer map keeps moving.
A new Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS) now oversees almost every drone budget line. Owen West is its CEO, Travis Metz is acting director of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), and an Autonomous Warfare Command is targeted for Oct. 1, 2027.8,9,10
In plain words: recheck names and offices before every outreach.
Do this next · This Week
- Audit your bill of materials against Sec. 848/817, the FCC Covered List and the Drone Dominance supply-chain framework (motors, batteries, flight-controller boards).
- Open a Blue List packet and sign with a Recognized Assessor. Green UAS is a recognized pathway to Blue.
- Submit a solution brief to the Army Drone Marketplace CSO (W58RGZ26SC001), with the AOI (Area of Interest, the topic category the CSO lists) in the subject line.
- Apply to the DoW Drone OTA Consortium. It's government-run, and you apply by email.
- Answer an RFI that fits. Four AFLCMC sUAS/C-sUAS RFIs close Oct. 28. Counter-drone companies should also file a JIATF-401 CSO brief.