What’s the status right now? • Phase I = “Gauntlet I”: live operational evaluation starting mid-February 2026 at Fort Benning, flown by military operators. • After evaluation concludes in early March, DoW plans to place ~$150M in prototype delivery orders, with deliveries across the following months. • The program is designed as a four-phase, iterative cycle where volumes go up, unit prices come down, and capability rises, with a stated ~$1.1B signal across the program. How Phase 2, 3, and 4 roll out (the part industry needs to internalize): Drone Dominance is structured around repeatable “Gauntlets.” Each phase begins with a Gauntlet and ends with delivery of production-quality systems from the highest performers. DoW’s published timeline suggests Gauntlet II ~6 months after Gauntlet I, then Gauntlet III ~6 months later, and Gauntlet IV ~6 months after that (dates subject to change). Importantly: it’s not a one-and-done down-select — companies not in Phase I can still apply for later phases. If you planning on entering, we are always here to partner with you. My take: this is now a production race. The winners won’t just be the best airframes or the cleverest autonomy stack. The winners will be the teams that can: • build repeatable, testable, interchangeable systems, • lock in reliable supply chains, • deliver consistent quality at scale, and • keep improving every cycle measured in months — not years. Where ePropelled fits — as a true partner As primes and drone OEMs sprint into phases 2–4, propulsion becomes a program risk if it’s treated as “just components.” At ePropelled, we focus on being the partner that helps you win the Gauntlet and deliver the follow-on production: • Integrated propulsion + controls (motor + controller as a matched system) • Manufacturing discipline and test infrastructure built for repeatability • Supply-chain strategy aligned to sovereign / compliant production • The unglamorous work that wins programs: quality, yield, throughput, and delivery If you’re in Drone Dominance (or planning to enter Phase II/III/IV), I’m happy to compare notes on what “production-ready” really looks like in 2026.

Discover what the Drone Dominance shortlist reveals about the future of defense procurement, autonomous systems, UAV manufacturing, and industrial readiness. Learn why scalable production, resilient supply chains, and manufacturing excellence are becoming as important as innovation in modern defense.

Explore the U.S. military’s Drone Dominance Program, its Phase I Gauntlet launch, procurement trends, and what it means for defense and drone manufacturers.