Governments around the world are no longer debating whether counter-drone systems are necessary. They are deciding which technologies, architectures, and vendors can scale fast enough to meet a rapidly expanding threat landscape.
Over the past month alone, a wave of counter-UAS (cUAS) contracts and initial procurements across the United States and allied nations suggests the market is moving from experimentation toward sustained acquisition. At the same time, new funding tied to high-profile events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics is accelerating operational deployments in civilian environments.
Taken together, these developments raise a central question: who is positioned to win in the global race for counter-drone capability – and the funding that goes with it?
From pilots to procurement
For years, counter-drone technology has largely lived in proof-of-concept territory, with governments testing detection sensors, electronic warfare tools, kinetic interceptors, and software-driven command-and-control systems. Recent contract activity shows many of those evaluations are now translating into funded programs. The examples below are by no means a complete list.
In January, the U.S. Air Force awarded Trust Automation a $490 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to develop and field counter-UAS capabilities through 2030, including research, prototyping, and potential production options.
The U.S. Department of Defense has also begun making initial purchases under its “Replicator 2” initiative focused on counter-small UAS. The first procurement includes two Fortem Technologies DroneHunter F700 systems, designed to capture hostile drones using net-based defeat mechanisms, with delivery expected in April.
At a smaller but notable scale, Leonardo DRS placed an initial order of roughly $350,000 with Axon Vision for AI-enabled counter-UAS systems to support U.S. defense and homeland security evaluations.
Overseas, procurement is moving even faster in some cases. Poland recently placed a $1.7 billion order with Kongsberg Gruppen for 18 counter-UAS batteries, a deal that also includes industrial investment to expand production capacity inside Poland. Israeli firm ParaZero Technologies announced multiple January orders and reseller agreements for its DefendAir counter-UAS systems, including its first order from an Israeli defense entity and additional activity tied to NATO-allied customers. Australia-based DroneShield reported a $6.2 million counter-drone contract for an Asia-Pacific military deployment.
These examples represent some of the recent deals in a fast-moving market, but the pattern is consistent: governments are placing real orders, not just running demonstrations.
Recent counter-UAS activity reflects demand for layered systems that typically combine:
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Detection and tracking sensors
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AI-enabled classification and identification
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Command-and-control software
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“Safe defeat” mechanisms such as nets, kinetic interceptors, or controlled capture
A policy environment that favors acceleration
Procurement momentum is being reinforced by policy and funding decisions, particularly in the United States, where counter-drone authority and resources are expanding at the same time.
In January, the Department of Homeland Security announced new counter-drone funding initiatives, explicitly citing the need to protect major public events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FEMA has allocated $250 million to 11 states hosting World Cup matches to support counter-UAS and border security measures.
Operationally, this reflects a broader shift toward treating low-altitude airspace as part of the overall threat environment for major events and public venues. For the 2026 Super Bowl, the Federal Aviation Administration has implemented temporary drone flight restrictions extending up to 30 miles around the stadium, while FBI and federal counter-drone teams will be deployed to support enforcement.
At the legislative level, Congress has moved to modernize domestic counter-UAS authority through the SAFER SKIES Act, now included in the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which expands who can legally detect and mitigate drone threats and establishes federal standards for training, technology use, and oversight. As AUVSI President and CEO Michael Robbins writes in DRONELIFE, the measure is intended to move counter-drone activity out of a purely experimental phase and into a more operational, accountable framework.
Similar dynamics are emerging overseas. Reuters has reported that U.S. and Italian security teams are integrating counter-drone measures into planning for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, while in the United Kingdom, drone incidents near military bases doubled in 2025, prompting expanded authority for the military to defeat unauthorized drones without relying on police response.
The common thread is clear: governments are pairing new authorities with new funding, creating conditions that favor rapid acquisition and deployment of counter-UAS technologies.
What kind of counter-drone systems are likely to win?
Rather than converging on a single technical approach, recent deals point toward an ecosystem of interoperable components.
Vendors that appear best positioned are those that can demonstrate:
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Reliable performance in complex RF and urban environments
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Interoperability with broader security and airspace-management systems
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Lawful, auditable operation aligned with national regulations
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Scalability from single sites to nationwide deployments
Winning in counter-UAS increasingly looks less like building a single “silver bullet” and more like becoming part of a trusted security stack.
Why this matters for commercial drone ecosystems
The counter-drone boom is not isolated from the commercial drone industry.
As cUAS systems are deployed around stadiums, cities, critical infrastructure, and transportation hubs, they must increasingly distinguish between hostile drones and legitimate commercial operations. That reality increases demand for accurate identification, remote ID integration, airspace awareness, and cooperative traffic management.
In effect, the same environments driving counter-drone spending are also the environments where commercial drone operations hope to scale.
The race for counter-UAS dominance, then, is not only about defense. It is also about shaping the rules, technologies, and expectations that will govern how drones of all types coexist in shared airspace.
And that may ultimately determine who truly wins.
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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