Precision Gasket Solutions
July 22, 2025Critical Defense News from PNA Technologies
March 3, 2026
Articles
Fight Tonight: The DoW’s Multi-Billion Dollar Drone Pivot
The Department of War (formerly the Department of Defense) is currently executing a massive shift toward low-cost, mass-produced unmanned aerial systems (UAS) through its Drone Dominance Program (DDP). This initiative aims to field hundreds of thousands of drones by 2027 to ensure “drone dominance” on the modern battlefield.
Key Drone Initiatives & Contracts (2025–2026)
Drone Dominance Program (DDP): A $1.1 billion initiative designed to rapidly scale the production of small, one-way attack (OWA) drones.
Phase I (“Gauntlet I”): In February 2026, the department invited 25 vendors to compete for prototype delivery orders.
Scaling Targets: The program aims to deliver 30,000 units by July 2026 at approximately $5,000 per unit, eventually scaling to 150,000 units by 2027 as the price drops to $2,300 per drone.
Army Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR):New-orders-for 130-drones was secured for multiple orders and other sUAS platforms, with expected “aggressive” ramp-ups throughout 2026.
Strategic Shift in Acquisition
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has emphasized a “fight tonight” philosophy, moving away from expensive, multi-million dollar missiles to counter cheap drones.
Funding: The program is largely supported by the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which allocated billions for direct spending on drones and AI.
Blue UAS List: The department has transitioned the Blue UAS Cleared List to the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) to streamline the vetting of secure, U.S.-made drone technology.
PNA is actively a key sub-tier supplier providing critical EMI/RFI shielding solutions for the UAS industry.
Role in Drone Supply Chains
PNA Technologies specializes in custom-cut EMI gaskets and thermal gap pads that are essential for the performance and survival of unmanned systems in contested environments. Their involvement centers on:
Electromagnetic Shielding: Supplying particle-filled silicone and fluorosilicone gaskets that protect sensitive drone electronics from interference caused by onboard motors or external electronic warfare (EW) like jamming.
Environmental Sealing: Their gaskets provide simultaneous protection against moisture, fuel, and extreme temperatures, which is critical for the “all-weather” requirements of military UAS.
Rapid Prototyping: PNA offers custom-cut solutions that align with the DoW’s new “accelerated acquisition” model, which favors vendors who can iterate and scale production quickly.
The “Drone Dominance” Requirement
The Department of War has mandated that all drones in its new programs must have specific levels of enclosure-level shielding. While 25 lead vendors hold the prime contracts, they rely on specialized component manufacturers like PNA Technologies to meet these stringent military EMI standards.
