U.S. Air Force Awards Tandem Defense Up to $90 Million for Small Aerial Denial Drones
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Tandem Defense, a Georgia-based drone manufacturer, a contract worth up to $90 million to produce small, expendable Group 1 unmanned aircraft systems designed for aerial denial missions. These drones, weighing under 20 pounds and flying below 1,200 feet, are intended to intercept and destroy enemy drones, including one-way attack systems like Iran's Shahed-136. The competitively awarded contract drew 10 offers and runs through July 2028, managed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. Tandem Defense, which has deployed over 25,000 systems across U.S. military branches and allied nations, also produces a fiber-optic FPV drone immune to jamming and a kinetic counter-drone interceptor. The contract includes training and field support. This award reflects a broader Pentagon urgency to counter cheap, mass-produced drones, exemplified by a separate $500 million Army contract to AeroVironment and the Department of War's Drone Dominance initiative.
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