S2MARTS Drone Dominance Program Phase II Request for Solutions
DoW Drone Dominance Phase II RFS: $300M+ procurement for one-way attack drones through competitive testing. Winners receive orders for 4,000-8,000 units.
DISTIL analysis
DoW Drone Dominance Phase II RFS: $300M+ procurement for one-way attack drones through competitive testing. Winners receive orders for 4,000-8,000 units.
Analytical summary
This Request for Solutions documents the U.S. Department of War's Drone Dominance Program Phase II, a $300M+ competitive procurement for one-way attack small unmanned aerial systems. The program uses a four-stage competition process: applications, qualifier testing, production delivery of 120 units, and final Gauntlet II operational evaluation by warfighters. Winning vendors will receive prototype orders for 4,000-8,000 drones at fixed prices ($3,500-$4,500 per unit). The program emphasizes U.S. supply chain development, lethal payload integration, and operations in contested electromagnetic environments across two mission areas: long-range strikes (5-20km) and tactical assault in close quarters. Phase II is part of a larger $1.1B, four-phase advanced market commitment to build domestic drone manufacturing capacity at scale.
Key points
- Phase II budget minimum $300M, total program $1.1B across four phases
- Two mission areas: Long Range Strike (5-20km) and Tactical Assault in Close Quarters (<2km)
- Four-stage competition: Application, Qualifier Event, Production Test (120 units), Gauntlet II
- Fixed pricing: $4,500 per drone (Mission A), $3,500 per drone (Mission B), $3,250 per munition
- Top 5 vendors per mission area receive prototype orders for 4,000-8,000 drones
- Mandatory lethal payload integration with ESAD/EMSAD from separate Lethality Prize Challenge
- Supply chain restrictions more stringent than NDAA; batteries and motors must be from non-covered countries
- Testing emphasizes operations in contested EM environments with GPS/comms denial
- CMMC Level 2 certification required by November 2026 for handling CUI
Node counts
Nodes
Office of the Secretary of War
Entity · Page 2
U.S. government entity serving as project sponsor for the Drone Dominance Program
Project Sponsor Office of the Secretary of War
Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division
Entity · Page 2
Contracting activity responsible for administering the Drone Dominance Program awards
Contracting Activity Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division
NSTXL / S2MARTS
Entity · Page 1
Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems consortium managing the RFS process
S2MARTS Powered by NSTXL Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S2MARTS)
Test Resource Management Center (TRMC)
Entity · Page 2
Government entity responsible for conducting Gauntlet test events
Each phase includes a Gauntlet test event, run by the Test Resource Management Center (TRMC)
Department of War (DoW)
Entity · Page 2
U.S. government department conducting the procurement; seeking to provide ground combat forces with one-way attack sUAS capabilities
the Department of War (DoW) must provide ground combat forces with the tools needed to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy in close combat. The DoW must provide one-way attack (OWA) small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) to warfighters at low cost, at scale, and from a supply chain that is resilient.
RFS Response Deadline
Event · Page 2
Deadline for vendor submissions in response to this Request for Solutions
Response Deadline May 8, 2026, 5:00 PM US Eastern Time
Stage 1: Qualifier Event
Event · Page 5, 6
Screening test event at Camp Grayling, MI where vendors demonstrate minimum system capabilities at their own expense; approximately 10 vendors per mission area advance to Stage 2
Phase II requires that all interested vendors successfully pass a Stage 1 Qualifier Event, estimated to be held June 8-20, 2026, at Camp Grayling, MI... Approximately 10 vendors for each mission... The participants will be scored and ranked to determine which vendors move on to Stage 2.
Stage 2: Production & Delivery Test
Event · Page 6, 7
Firm fixed price order for 120 drones with associated components and munitions; delivery required no later than two weeks prior to Gauntlet II; tests production readiness and supply chain management
Vendors that advance to Stage 2 will be awarded a firm fixed price order for the production and delivery of 120 drones, associated durable system components, and lethality payload... The full order of 120 drone systems, associated equipment, and munitions packages must be delivered to the designated government location no later than two weeks prior to the start of Gauntlet II.
Stage 3: Gauntlet II Event
Event · Page 5, 7
Final operational test event where warfighters pilot vendor systems in mission-relevant scenarios; approximately 5 vendors per mission area selected for prototype delivery orders; anticipated late August 2026
The Gauntlet II event is the final stage of the competition, designed to identify the most capable system for scaling and fielding. This event will be exclusively piloted by trained warfighters... anticipated to be held in late August 2026... Approximately 5 vendors selected for each mission
Lethality Prize Challenge Preferred Munitions List Publication
Event · Page 3, 4
Government publication of preferred munitions solutions from separate Lethality Prize Challenge, enabling sUAS vendors to pair with munitions vendors
A list of preferred munitions solutions from the Lethality Prize Challenges will be published on DroneDominance.mil in late April 2026 (approx. April 21st).
Supply Chain Migration Schedule Publication
Event · Page 6, 12
Government publication of Drone Dominance Supply Chain Migration Schedule detailing restrictive sourcing requirements beyond NDAA standards
This supply chain migration schedule will be published on April 27th at DroneDominance.mil... The Drone Dominance Supply Chain Migration Schedule will be published on DroneDominance.mil (estimated April 27, 2026).
Total Program Budget: $1.1B
Claim · Page 2
The Drone Dominance Program will award $1.1 billion across four phases, with Phase II having a minimum budget of $300 million
Anticipated Project Budget Total Program (Phases I - IV): $1,100,000,000; Phase II: $300,000,000 (minimum)... The Drone Dominance Program (DDP) is awarding $1.1 billion in prototype orders utilizing 10 U.S.C. 4022 over four independent phases.
Fixed Drone Pricing
Claim · Page 10
Mission Area A drones are priced at $4,500 per unit; Mission Area B drones are priced at $3,500 per unit; all munitions (lethal or training) are priced at $3,250 per unit
Table 6-1. Fixed Prices (Drones & Munitions) Item Price Mission Area A - Long Range Strike $4,500 Per Drone Mission Area B - Tactical Assault in Close Quarters $3,500 Per Drone Munitions (Applicable to Area A and Area B) $3,250 Per Munition (Lethal Payload or Training Payload)
Prototype Order Quantities
Claim · Page 10
Winning vendors will receive prototype orders ranging from 4,000 to 8,000 drones based on ranking, with total Phase II orders of 30,000 units per mission area
Table 6-2. Projected Order Quantities... 1st place 8,000... 2nd place 7,000... 3rd place 6,000... 4th place 5,000... 5th place 4,000... Total Prototype Orders for Phase II 30,000
Mission Area A Parameters
Claim · Page 3
Mission Area A targets long-range strikes at 5-20km range against anti-personnel, light armor, anti-material, and heavy armor targets with warhead size ≥2.0kg at platoon and squad level
Mission Area A: Long Range Strike... Find, Fix, & Finish at extended ranges (up to ~20KM)... Target Set: Anti-personnel, light armor, anti-material, and heavy armor... Mission Range: 5-20KM... Packability: Platoon & Squad Level... Warhead Size: ≥ 2.0 KG
Mission Area B Parameters
Claim · Page 3
Mission Area B targets tactical assault in close quarters at <2km range in indoor/outdoor environments including building clearance with warhead size ≥0.5kg at team and squad level
Mission Area B: Tactical Assault in Close Quarters... Find, Fix, & Finish in close quarters environment, including building interiors, trenches, bunkers, and tunnels... Target Set: Primarily anti-personnel, some light vehicles... Mission Range: <2KM... Operational Environment: Indoor & Outdoor, including building clearance, trenches, convoys, troop movements, etc.... Packability: Team & Squad Level... Warhead Size: ≥ 0.5 KG
Common Mission Requirements
Claim · Page 3
All systems must operate in all weather/lighting conditions, contested EM spectrum with RF jamming and GNSS denial, and deliver lethal payloads against moving and stationary targets
Common Mission Objectives... Target Engagement: Capable of striking multiple moving and stationary targets in rapid succession... Operating Conditions: All weather (rain, wind, heat) and all-lighting (day, low-light, night)... Electromagnetic (EM) Environment: Operate in a 'Dirty' Electro-Magnetic (EM) spectrum and be resilient to radio frequency (RF) jamming and comms/Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) denial... Lethality: All systems must be capable of delivering a lethal payload.
Mandatory Lethal Payload Integration
Claim · Page 3
All sUAS vendors must integrate a lethal payload with ESAD/EMSAD from the Lethality Prize Challenge preferred list or independently qualified alternative; pairing with multiple munitions vendors is encouraged
All SUAS vendors competing in Phase II are required to integrate a full fire set which includes a lethal payload and reusable training payload, either from the prize challenge's preferred munitions list or an independently qualified alternative that meets the prize challenge requirements... the Government would prefer that each system is paired with more than one munition vendor, and this will be incorporated into scoring criteria
Supply Chain Restrictions
Claim · Page 6, 8
Drone Dominance Supply Chain Migration Schedule is more restrictive than NDAA; batteries and motors must be sourced from non-covered countries; compliance required for all Phase II deliveries
Drone and ground control equipment must conform to the Drone Dominance Supply Chain Migration Schedule which is more restrictive than the NDAA... The primary difference for Phase II, as compared to the NDAA, is the requirement that batteries and motors must be sourced from non-covered countries (e.g., allied countries).
Qualifier Minimum Requirements
Claim · Page 6
Systems must demonstrate safe flight, integrated trainer payload with ESAD/EMSAD, wireless command link, supply chain compliance; Mission A minimum 10km flight; Mission B minimum MOUT building entry in EW environment
System must demonstrate safe and stable flight... System must be integrated with a reusable munitions trainer as defined in the Drone Dominance Lethality Prize Challenge, which includes an ESAD/EMSAD... Systems must have a wireless command link solution... Mission Area A: System must demonstrate ability to fly a minimum of 10KM... Mission Area B: System must demonstrate ability to approach a Military Operation or Urban Terrain (MOUT) facility, fly inside a building through a window and into an adjacent room... System must complete the above operation within an Electronic Warfare (EW) environment
Stage 2 Delivery Requirements
Claim · Page 7
Vendors must deliver 120 OWA air vehicles, 6 complete sets of durable system components (20:1 ratio), 20 night vision systems, 90 ESAD/EMSADs, 60 trainer payloads, 10 lethal payloads, and 30 dummy payloads
Table 5-3. Step 2 Production Test: Delivery Requirement... OWA Air Vehicles: 120 units... Durable System Components: 6 complete sets (20:1 ratio)... Night Vision System: 20 units... Lethality: 90 ESAD/EMSADS, 60 Trainer Payloads, 10 lethal payloads, 30 dummy payloads
Gauntlet II Evaluation Criteria
Claim · Page 8
Evaluation based on three categories: Gauntlet Performance (mission execution in degraded environments), Military Operator Evaluation (usability feedback from warfighters), and Supply Chain/Production Capabilities
The evaluation criteria will be based on a holistic assessment across three categories: Gauntlet Performance, Military Operator Evaluation, and Supply Chain/Production Capabilities... Gauntlet Performance: This category focuses on the system's ability to execute its core mission: to find, fix, and finish a target. Performance in degraded RF and/or GNSS environments is paramount.
Final Delivery Specifications
Claim · Page 10, 11
Winners must deliver awarded drone quantities with 1:20 ratio of durable components, 5% sparing, 20% night vision capability, 60% minimum complete fire sets (75% lethal/25% trainer), and comprehensive training materials
Durable System Components: The reusable equipment required to operate the air vehicles... must be delivered at a ratio of 1:20... Spares: Vendors must provide a 5% sparing of common failure components... Night Vision: Night vision or low light capability is required for a minimum of 20% of sUAS systems... Fire Sets: Vendors must deliver complete fire sets for a minimum of 60% of their total drone including ESAD/EMSAD... Of these systems delivered with an ESAD/EMSAD, 75% will be delivered with lethal payloads and 25% will be delivered with training payloads.
Delivery Schedule and Penalties
Claim · Page 11, 12
Deliveries in two equal batches: Batch 1 at 2.5 months, Batch 2 at 5 months; late deliveries (5-8 months) incur 20% payment reduction; deliveries beyond 8 months may be cancelled
Batch 1: First 50% of total OWA drone order due NLT 2.5 months after prototype delivery order... Batch 2: Second 50% of total OWA drone order due NLT 5 months after prototype delivery order... On time (delivered within 5 months of prototype delivery order): Full payment... Late (delivered between 5 months and 8 months of prototype delivery order): Payment for drone and munition reduced by 20%... Beyond 8 months: The Government reserves the right to cancel any remaining deliveries
CMMC Certification Requirements
Claim · Page 15, 16
CMMC Level 1 (Self) required for Qualifier; CMMC Level 2 (Self) required for prototype delivery award; by November 10, 2026 contractors handling CUI must meet CMMC Level 2 with mandatory third-party assessment
The CMMC level required by this solicitation is: CMMC Level 1 (Self). The CMMC level required for prototype delivery award is: CMMC Level 2 (Self)... By November 10, 2026 contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) must meet CMMC Level 2 requirements and the start of mandatory third-party assessment (C3PAO).
Legal Authority and Award Type
Claim · Page 2
Program operates under 10 U.S.C. § 4022 'Authority of the Department of Defense to Carry Out Certain Prototype Projects' with Prototype Other Transaction Agreements as resultant award type
Authority: 10 U.S.C. § 4022, 'Authority of the Department of Defense to Carry Out Certain Prototype Projects'... Resultant Award Type: Prototype Other Transaction Agreements (10 U.S.C. § 4022)
Program Strategic Objectives
Claim · Page 2
Program aims to establish multiple U.S. vendors capable of producing low-cost, secure supply-chain sUAS at scale, enabling future Service acquisition pathways and building domestic manufacturing capacity in response to drones reshaping warfare
Drones are reshaping the character of war... The DoW must provide one-way attack (OWA) small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) to warfighters at low cost, at scale, and from a supply chain that is resilient... At the completion of the DDP, multiple U.S. vendors will have demonstrated the ability to produce capable, low-cost, secure supply-chain sUAS at scale, enabling Services to integrate these capabilities into future acquisition pathways.
Application Submission Rules
Claim · Page 5
Vendors may apply for one or both mission areas with separate complete applications; up to two applications per mission area allowed for separate systems; vendors competing in both areas must test concurrently
Vendors may apply for Mission Area A, Mission Area B, or both. A separate, complete application is required for each Mission Area... Vendors may submit up to two applications per mission area for separate sUAS systems... Vendors competing in both mission areas should be prepared to conduct testing for Mission Area A and Mission Area B concurrently, as events may overlap.
Future Phase Preview
Claim · Page 9
Phase III will require integration with two or more munitions providers and focus on warfighter-led evaluation in semi-persistent test environments; Phase IV will emphasize rapid continuous improvement alongside high-volume production
Phase III will shift from individual system performance to warfighter-led evaluation in unscripted, operationally realistic scenarios... Phase III will require that all UAS vendors are integrated with two or more munitions providers... Phase IV will place a premium on a vendor's ability to sustain rapid, continuous improvement alongside high-volume production.
Extracted text
Original source file
Open source- Source UID
- s2marts-drone-dominance-g2-rfs-final-2-20260504
- Full SHA-256
- aaf1544840c3462975e4f05d5fe17c3c894133bf8cd1fbff61136b51c3e12285