US Army launches UAS Marketplace to streamline drone procurement

The US Army has introduced the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Marketplace, a new digital platform intended to expedite the procurement process for drone technology.

The online storefront, launched on 24 March 2026, will enable US Army units, government agencies, and allied nations to acquire “vetted” uncrewed aerial systems more efficiently.

Developed in partnership with Amazon Web Services and the Army Enterprise Cloud Management Agency, the UAS Marketplace provides users with tools to compare features of various systems, submit feedback and place orders directly through the platform.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to modernise and expand the Army’s approach to defence acquisitions.

Army Acquisition executive Brent G. Ingraham said: “The UAS Marketplace is a prime example of how the Army is transforming its acquisition processes to be more agile, competitive and effective.

“By lowering barriers to entry and partnering with a wider range of industrial innovators, we are building a more resilient and responsive defence industrial base, which is essential for equipping our force and deterring our adversaries.”

The marketplace aims to establish a “competitive and transparent” environment, expanding the industrial base and offering a greater variety of drone capabilities to address the changing requirements of the modern battlefield.

Additionally, the platform is designed to enable faster delivery of technology, directly supporting Army modernisation initiatives and the strategic objective of achieving drone dominance.

The US Army also plans to utilise the marketplace to accelerate the provision of uncrewed systems to allied forces and international partners. Its structure is expected to simplify foreign military sales processes by providing easier access to mission-specific solutions.

US Army UAS project manager colonel Danielle Medaglia said: “The UAS Marketplace is a transformative approach to acquisition. By fostering competition and innovation, we are ensuring that Soldiers have access to the most advanced technologies to meet their mission requirements. This strategy is about delivering capability at scale and at speed.”

The Army is presenting the UAS Marketplace in the ongoing Association of the United States Army Global Force Symposium and Exposition in Huntsville, Alabama.

Additionally, a Marketplace Showcase will be held on 14 April ahead of the Army Aviation Association of America’s Warfighting Summit.

Procurement lessons from Ukraine

In creating an online drone market place, the US appears to be adopting a strategy created by Ukraine under the DOT-Chain initiative, which enables frontline units to rapidly liaise with industry to procure items such as drones for use on the battlefield.

Through such programmes, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence has been able to significantly reduce procurement timelines, a vital requirement given the immediate demands of the ongoing war against Russia.

Drones obtained via DOT-Chain need not be highly complex, but simply capable enough to perform a role on the battlefield, such as surveillance and overwatch.