Gauntlet II had two mission-area winners, not one overall champion: Perennial Autonomy ranked first in deep strike, and Neros ranked first in close quarters battle. Neros also placed third in deep strike, putting it in the top five for both categories. That cross-category result is notable, but it is not a separate overall title.
Gauntlet II leaderboard: the top five in each mission
DefenseScoop reported the following rankings for the August 2026 event:
| Mission area | Rankings |
|---|---|
| Deep strike | 1. Perennial Autonomy 2. Hyperscale 3. Neros 4. Skycutter 5. Swarm Defense Technologies |
| Close quarters battle | 1. Neros 2. ORQA US 3. XTEND Reality 4. Vector 5. ModalAI |
DefenseScoop’s Gauntlet II results report provides these top-five lists. Challenging Defence Markets also describes Neros as the clear winner based on its placing in both categories, but that is an analysis of the reported rankings rather than an official overall award: Challenging Defence Markets.
What Gauntlet II tested
Drone Dominance is a U.S. Department of War program to procure small, low-cost drones. The program says it is sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of War and jointly administered by the Test Resource Management Center and Defense Innovation Unit. Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane holds contracting authority and issues prototype delivery orders based on Gauntlet results. Each phase combines a challenge with delivery of production-quality systems for military operators to evaluate in mission scenarios. The official program overview explains the structure.
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The participant funnel began with 49 companies invited to a Phase 2 qualifier at Camp Grayling, Michigan. The program says approximately 79 unique drones were tested in deep-strike and close-quarters-battle missions, and 19 companies advanced to Gauntlet II at Fort Carson, Colorado, in August 2026. The program’s participant page gives those figures.
#1 Best Overall
- No Registration Needed - Under 249 g, this drone with camera for adults 4K does not require FAA registration or Remote ID for recreational use. Visit the FAA's official website for requirements related to drone registration and Remote ID. [1]
- 4K Ultra HD & 3-Axis Gimbal for Cinematic Quality Shooting - Capture stunning moments in any light—sunrises, sunsets, and night scenes with crystal-clear 4K resolution. Thanks to the 3-axis gimbal, you can achieve cinematic-quality footage with this advanced drone with camera.
- 38kph (Level 5) Wind Resistant - This drone for adults has a stable flight even in Level 5 winds. Brushless motors enhance power and allow takeoff at altitudes up to 4,000 meters.
- Due to platform compatibility issue, the DJI Fly app has been removed from Google Play. To ensure a better product usage experience, please log in to the DJI official website to download the latest version of DJI Fly.
- Uninterrupted Creation with Extended Battery Life - There are three sets available for you to choose from: 1-battery set (31-min), 2-battery set (62-min), or 3-battery set (93-min). [3] Say goodbye to battery anxiety and let nothing hold you back.
At Gauntlet II, Defense Innovation Unit officials reported 1,858 sorties across 23 platforms from 19 companies, according to DefenseScoop. The publication also relayed officials’ description of it as “the Drone Dominance Program’s most demanding test to date.”
Reported long-distance performance
In the comparison reported by DefenseScoop, all 11 platforms evaluated at long distance reached 15 km. In Gauntlet I, 24% of drones managed to reach 10 km. The two figures use different distance thresholds, so they should not be read as a like-for-like comparison at the same range.
Rank #2
- No Registration Needed - Under 249 g, this drone with camera for adults 4K does not require FAA registration or Remote ID for recreational use. Visit the FAA's official website for requirements related to drone registration and Remote ID. [1]
- 4K Ultra HD & 3-Axis Gimbal for Cinematic Quality Shooting - Capture stunning moments in any light—sunrises, sunsets, and night scenes with crystal-clear 4K resolution. Thanks to the 3-axis gimbal, you can achieve cinematic-quality footage with this advanced drone with camera.
- 38kph (Level 5) Wind Resistant - This drone for adults has a stable flight even in Level 5 winds. Brushless motors enhance power and allow takeoff at altitudes up to 4,000 meters.
- 10km Max HD Video Transmission-up to 10 km (32,800 feet) [2] of HD video transmission and has excellent anti-interference capabilities, giving you the ability to freely explore vast landscapes and see clearer.
- Due to platform compatibility issue, the DJI Fly app has been removed from Google Play. To ensure a better product usage experience, please log in to the DJI official website to download the latest version of DJI Fly.
What the results do—and do not—say about contracts
A leaderboard place reflects performance ranking in a mission area; it is not, by itself, confirmation of a production contract, final order quantity, or delivery. DefenseScoop reported that the Department planned to purchase about 60,000 drones from the Gauntlet II vendor pool. That is a reported plan, not evidence that all those units had already been ordered or assigned to particular companies.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe program’s broader overview states an intention to purchase over 200,000 drones by 2027. This is a program-level target, distinct from the reported plan for about 60,000 units from the Gauntlet II vendor pool. Neither figure specifies a final vendor-by-vendor allocation.
Rank #3
- No Registration Needed - Under 249 g, this drone with camera for adults 4K does not require FAA registration or Remote ID for recreational use. Visit the FAA's official website for requirements related to drone registration and Remote ID. [1]
- 4K Ultra HD & 3-Axis Gimbal for Cinematic Quality Shooting - Capture stunning moments in any light—sunrises, sunsets, and night scenes with crystal-clear 4K resolution. Thanks to the 3-axis gimbal, you can achieve cinematic-quality footage with this advanced drone with camera.
- 38kph (Level 5) Wind Resistant - This drone for adults has a stable flight even in Level 5 winds. Brushless motors enhance power and allow takeoff at altitudes up to 4,000 meters.
- 10km Max HD Video Transmission-up to 10 km (32,800 feet) [2] of HD video transmission and has excellent anti-interference capabilities, giving you the ability to freely explore vast landscapes and see clearer.
- Due to platform compatibility issue, the DJI Fly app has been removed from Google Play. To ensure a better product usage experience, please log in to the DJI official website to download the latest version of DJI Fly.
The Motley Fool named nine firms as eligible for production contracts, while attributing specific order amounts or awards to a separate Tectonic Defense report; some claims were framed as expected. Eligibility, reported expectations, and confirmed awards are different statuses. The article does not establish a complete, consistent final allocation by company: The Motley Fool’s coverage.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where Gauntlet II sits in the program timeline
The official program overview lists Gauntlet I in February 2026 and Gauntlet II in August 2026. It also shows an estimated Gauntlet 2.5 in October 2026, focused on a bomber-platform mission, followed by Gauntlets 3 and 4 roughly six months apart. The page marks dates as subject to change. It also says Drone Dominance is not a down-select process: vendors not selected in an earlier phase may apply in later phases. These are schedule and process details displayed on the program page as accessed October 3, 2026.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Enhanced Camera for Travel Shots - Air 3S's 1" CMOS primary camera delivers breathtaking shots with enriched detail in low-light scenarios like sunsets and nightscapes.
- Capture Footage with Vibrant Detail - Record cinematic 4K/60fps HDR video with up to 14 stops of dynamic range [4] to see intricate cloud textures and other details during sunrise and sunset.
- Free Panorama Mode - Create seamless panoramic shots by stitching together images. Wide-angle panos offer a wider scope for selection, medium tele panos provide high detail and less distortion.
- Safer Nighttime Flying - Forward-facing LiDAR and additional sensors enable nightscape omnidirectional obstacle sensing, allowing your drone to circumvent buildings while flying. [1]
- Next-Gen Smart Return-To-Home - Powerful upgraded algorithms allow the Air 3S to intelligently select the optimal RTH route and quickly fly back to the Home Point, even in weak GPS signal areas. [6]
Rank #4
- Lightweight & Portable Design - Weighing just 151g [9] and C0 certified, this compact drone features full-coverage propeller guards for safer, worry-free transport and flight.
- Palm Takeoff & Landing [1], Gesture Control [2] - Enjoy easy palm takeoff and landing, plus intuitive gesture controls for hands-free operation and seamless flying experiences.
- Smooth & Reliable Tracking - ActiveTrack [3] keeps your subject in focus, while Apple Watch lets you view live feed, check flight status, or use voice control to adjust tracking [17].
- Easy Moment Capture With SelfieShot - Snap memorable moments easily with SelfieShot, allowing quick and convenient selfies anytime with just a simple tap.
- All-Around Safety & Flexible Flight - Fly confidently with omnidirectional obstacle sensing [8] and enjoy versatile flight [13] for safer, more dynamic aerial adventures.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
