The $1.1 Billion Plan to Scale Drone Warfare | Derek McBride, Dept. of War Innovation Unit (DIU)

DIU's $1.1B Drone Dominance program is deliberately downselecting tactical drone vendors through 2027 while imposing strict new supply-chain traceability requirements.

• Drone Dominance scale: DIU's $1.1B program (launched Dec 2025) is buying lethal tactical UAS through 2027 via 'Gauntlet' challenge competitions, down-selecting from 11 vendors toward fewer winners.
• From R&D grants to buy-fly: McBride says VC capital now subsidizes R&D so DIU engages 'essentially fully baked' products rather than funding white-paper contracts.

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