US Army counter‑drone procurement

In early August 2026 the U.S. Army began expanding its counter‑drone arsenal. On 4 August it issued a request for information for a Next Generation Counter‑sUAS Missile (NGCM) that would cost less than $150,000 each, be produced in quantities of at least 5,000, and engage small unmanned aerial systems out to 16‑25 km and altitudes of 6‑8 km. The missile is intended to integrate with existing Raytheon Coyote launchers and radar systems such as Patriot, AN/TPQ‑53 and Sentinel.

Three days later, on 7 August, the Army announced a separate $400 million purchase of counter‑drone laser systems from AeroVironment. The directed‑energy contracts complement the kinetic missile effort, reflecting a broader strategy to field both affordable missile interceptors and high‑precision laser weapons to neutralize the growing threat of small drones on future battlefields.