AeroVironment won an $80.5M task order to supply counter-drone technology for Air Force Global Strike Command installations. The deal is the first execution under a $500M indefinite-delivery contract announced by the Pentagon last week. It supports Joint Interagency Task Force 401's Domestic Shield initiative, which focuses on protecting U.S. military sites from small unmanned aerial system threats.
The core system is Titan-MS, a multi-sensor fusion platform that uses AI and machine learning to detect, track, and defeat both RF-controlled and autonomous drones. The deployment will include Titan 4 systems, electro-optical/infrared cameras, and integrated radar to create layered base defense. AV describes the architecture as fully interoperable and scalable for fixed or mobile use.
Air Force Global Strike Command operates long-range strike assets including bombers and ICBMs. Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana experienced multiple unauthorized drone incursions in March 2026, with varying durations and numbers of aircraft. The command has not disclosed whether the intruders were identified or neutralized.
The contract structure allows rapid procurement of additional counter-UAS capabilities across services. JIATF-401, an Army-led organization stood up in 2025, is driving standardization of drone defense systems to address what the Pentagon now treats as a persistent homeland and overseas threat.
