Gauntlet I
Pentagon drone competition at Fort Moore where Skycutter scored 99.3/100, triggering Phase 1 delivery orders.
Last refreshed: 13 April 2026
Can Gauntlet's speed match the pace of battlefield drone evolution?
Timeline for Gauntlet I
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Drones: Industry & Defence- What happened at the Pentagon's first Drone Dominance Gauntlet?
- Skycutter scored 99.3/100 at Fort Moore, beating US incumbents and winning alongside 10 other firms in the Phase 1 delivery order.Source: Lowdown drones briefing
- How many drones did the Pentagon order from Gauntlet I?
- 30,000 one-way attack drones at $5,000 per unit from a $150 million Phase 1 allocation, to be fulfilled within five months.Source: Lowdown drones briefing
- When is Gauntlet II taking place?
- Gauntlet II is confirmed for August 2026, targeting 50,000 to 60,000 additional drones.Source: Lowdown drones briefing
- Which companies received Phase 1 delivery orders from Gauntlet I?
- 11 companies in total received delivery orders; Skycutter was the top scorer but 10 other firms also qualified.Source: Lowdown drones briefing
Background
Gauntlet I was the Pentagon's inaugural Drone Dominance evaluation, held at Fort Moore, Georgia. London-based Skycutter, partnered with Ukrainian firm SkyFall, scored 99.3 out of 100 with a modified Shrike 10 Fiber FPV drone, placing 11.8 points ahead of runner-up Neros. The result was significant because it beat established US defence contractors at their own procurement game, demonstrating that smaller allied firms could outperform incumbents on objective criteria.
Gauntlet I unlocked a $150 million Phase 1 allocation for 30,000 one-way attack drones at $5,000 per unit, with 11 companies receiving delivery orders to fulfil within five months. Programme manager Travis Metz confirmed the orders, with the Pentagon targeting a long-run unit cost of $2,000. Three further Gauntlet competitions are planned through 2027.
The Gauntlet cycle is now a standing acquisition mechanism, with Gauntlet II confirmed for August 2026 targeting 50,000 to 60,000 additional drones. The Lethality Prize Challenge feeds preferred munitions suppliers into that next round. The format represents a deliberate break from traditional Pentagon procurement, using live competitive evaluation to compress the cycle from years to months.
