New C-UAS Marketplace aims to speed evaluation and procurement of validated counter-drone technologies for military, law enforcement, and allied partners
The U.S. Department of War has awarded Kaizen a $15 million contract to build and operate an expanded digital marketplace designed to accelerate the procurement of validated counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) technologies.
The marketplace, developed for the Department’s Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401), serves as a centralized platform where military organizations, domestic law enforcement agencies, and allied partners can discover, evaluate, and acquire counter-drone technologies. The effort reflects a broader push to reduce procurement delays as the use of low-cost commercial drones continues to reshape security and military operations.
Kaizen announced that it developed, accredited, and deployed the platform under a prototype Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) awarded on May 8, 2026.
Faster Procurement for a Faster Threat
The Department of War says the marketplace addresses a growing challenge. Small, inexpensive drones have changed the pace of modern conflict, while traditional acquisition processes often move much more slowly.
Rather than requiring buyers to navigate multiple vendors and evaluation processes, the marketplace provides a single location for validated products. Authorized users can search by operational requirements, review verified performance data, and submit acquisition requests through one interface.
According to the Department of War, the platform also supports the Secretary of the Army’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Fast Lane initiative. That program is intended to shorten timelines for approved international defense sales by integrating pre-cleared products into existing acquisition pathways.
“JIATF-401 remains focused on delivering the right counter-UAS capabilities to the right users at the right time,” said U.S. Army Maj. Mike Hapner, C-UAS marketplace lead for JIATF-401. “Our revolutionary marketplace, powered through our partnership with industry, creates a streamlined, trusted pathway for the Joint force, domestic law enforcement, and our international partners to rapidly discover and acquire validated technologies.”
AI Capability Planned for Marketplace
One of the platform’s planned features is an AI-based Capability Planner.
According to Kaizen, the tool will allow users to describe an operational scenario in plain language. The software then generates a recommended layered C-UAS package using validated products already listed in the marketplace.
The company says the system is designed to recommend technologies that address each stage of the counter-drone mission, from detection and tracking through identification and defeat. Users can review the recommendations before submitting an acquisition request.
Kaizen said the Capability Planner is expected to become operational on the live marketplace in the coming days.
“Government systems designed for a paper-based era should not slow down critical missions. For C-UAS, the Department of War needs first-class digital tools that move with the threat environment, not behind it,” said Nikhil Reddy, Co-founder and CEO of Kaizen. “We built an ambitious, transactional infrastructure designed to onboard vendors seamlessly and deliver a product discovery and validation experience that rivals any flagship consumer e-commerce platform. The marketplace is a win for the entire defense ecosystem.”
Marketplace Supports Government and Industry
The marketplace is designed to serve both government buyers and technology vendors.
Defense organizations can browse validated products, compare specifications, and submit acquisition requests. Vendors can publish product information, identify compliance status, and provide lead times. JIATF-401 independently validates listings before they become available to users.
Kaizen said its software is built as an application layer that operates above existing government systems rather than replacing them. The company says this approach reduces implementation risk while allowing agencies to modernize existing workflows.
“The marketplace is a critical step forward in our whole-of-government approach to countering the threat of unmanned systems,” said Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of JIATF-401. “This platform is not only revolutionizing the entire procurement process, but also empowering users with the information and tools needed to safeguard our service members and citizens, while providing timely, cost-effective solutions to our warfighters.”
In a separate Department of War announcement, Ross also emphasized the broader security challenge.
“Drones are a defining threat of our time,” said Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of JIATF-401. “The proliferation of small systems and small drones and the threat that they pose both to critical infrastructure and to defense critical assets requires us to move faster in this space. In order to address this threat, we are expanding the counter-UAS marketplace to allow us to share best practices and equipment globally.”
Part of a Broader Trend
The announcement reflects a wider trend across defense organizations toward digital procurement tools that can keep pace with rapidly changing technologies.
Counter-drone systems continue to evolve as commercial drones become more capable, more affordable, and more widely available. A centralized marketplace with validated products could help shorten evaluation cycles while giving military organizations, law enforcement agencies, and allied nations faster access to approved technologies.
The JIATF-401 C-UAS Marketplace is now available to authorized users through cuas.mil, with additional capabilities expected to be added as the platform expands.
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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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