US defence company Leonardo DRS says it has won a contract to supply counter-drone sensing technology to a US military task force. The contract has a ceiling of $500 million over three years, but that is a maximum, not money the company is guaranteed to receive.
In a release on 14 October 2026, Leonardo DRS said it had been awarded “a $500 million ceiling indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with three-year period of performance from the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401)”.
What the contract means
An IDIQ contract sets the terms for future orders without fixing how much will be bought. The government places individual “task orders” over time, and the company is only paid for those. The $500 million figure is the most that could be spent under the contract.
Leonardo DRS said it “will be eligible to compete for task orders”, so it will still have to win the work. The company did not announce any task orders.
Drones are also called uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). According to Leonardo DRS, the contract is meant to speed up delivery of tested counter-drone technology to forces in the field. The company’s work would focus on radar and other sensors for protecting troops and defending against low-flying threats.
“Today’s threat environment is evolving faster than ever, and our customers need proven capabilities delivered at operational speed,” said John Baylouny, president and chief executive of Leonardo DRS.
Max Cohen, general manager of the company’s RADA Technologies unit, said its radars had “demonstrated proven detection, tracking, and force protection performance in operational environments”. That is the company’s description.
What this means
- The $500 million is a ceiling. Revenue depends on task orders that have not been announced.
- Drone defence is a priority. The US military is buying faster ways to detect and stop small drones.
- Sensors are key. Finding and tracking drones comes before stopping them.
Sources
- Leonardo DRS, “Leonardo DRS Awarded JIATF-401 IDIQ Contract to Accelerate Delivery of Tactical Expeditionary Sensing Capabilities for Critical Counter UAS Mission”, 14 October 2026. https://www.leonardodrs.com/news/press-releases/leonardo-drs-awarded-jiatf-401-idiq-contract-to-accelerate-delivery-of-tactical-expeditionary-sensing-capabilities-for-critical-counter-uas-mission/
