The Department of Homeland Security has awarded a five-year, $1.5 billion indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for counter-unmanned aircraft systems to 12 companies, creating a single acquisition pathway that Secret Service, Customs and Border Protection, the Coast Guard and other DHS components can draw on to detect, track, identify and neutralize hostile drones.
Two Tracks, Twelve Names
The award, issued August 5 by the DHS Science and Technology Directorate, splits work between hardware/software and comprehensive managed services. Track 1, capped at just over $1 billion, went to Dedrone Defense, D-Fend Solutions, Leidos, Fortem Technologies, CACI, BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services, and EMS Defense Technologies. Track 2, valued at roughly $489 million, went to Booz Allen Hamilton, General Dynamics Information Technology, Parsons Government Services, BAE Systems, Leidos, Anduril Industries and Astrion Group. Only Leidos and BAE hold seats on both tracks.
Fortem's Small-Business Slot Brings Lockheed And Microsoft In Tow
Fortem Technologies — the only small business among the Track 1 winners — named Lockheed Martin and Microsoft as team subcontractors, layering electro-optical/infrared sensors, passive radar and command-and-control on top of Fortem's DroneHunter interceptor and TrueView radar. Fielded systems must detect drones at a minimum 2 kilometer range, track at least three UAS at once and mitigate threats out to 500 meters.
Closing DHS's Own Defensive Gap
The vehicle lands after months of DHS leaders acknowledging their defenses lagged their offensive drone investment. "We are behind the hook," Under Secretary for Science and Technology Pedro Allende told a Commercial Drone Alliance event days before the award. The award also follows Congress extending DHS's C-UAS authority under the December SAFER SKIES Act and this year's rollout of $500 million in state grants — the first $250 million tranche went to FIFA World Cup 2026 host states and the National Capital Region. Ordering under the IDIQ opened August 1 and runs through July 31, 2031. The award also arrives on the heels of Marine Corps drone-truck experiments and a $19M Marine Corps C-UAS truck buy.
Reporting based on coverage from Inside Unmanned Systems, Washington Technology and Executive Biz.