Mentioned:Vector
Vector has secured a U.S. Department of Defense order for 5,000 Warfighter's Stack attack drones following fourth-place ranking in the Drone Dominance Program competition. The integrated system combines the company's Mace quadcopter, electronic arming device and hand controller.
What's happening
- Vector unveiled the Warfighter's Stack, integrating its Mace quadcopter, High-Voltage Electronic Safe and Arm Device, and Hilt hand controller into a single operational architecture.
- The Pentagon awarded Vector a 5,000-unit drone order after the company placed fourth in the Drone Dominance Program's close-quarters battle category.
- Vector designed the system for production at scale, claiming capacity to fulfill orders in the thousands of units.
Why it matters
- The 5,000-unit order signals Pentagon confidence in Vector's manufacturing capacity and product maturity within the Drone Dominance Program supply base.
- Integrated one-way attack drone systems consolidate platform, arming and control into a single operational stack, reducing operator workload and integration risk for field units.
- Vector's modular HV-ESAD architecture enables compatibility across multiple drone platforms, expanding potential production and supply chain resilience across the DoD inventory.
Going deeper
- The Mace quadcopter features low-light and thermal cameras, electronic warfare resistance, fiber-optic control and altitude-hold capability for reduced operator burden in confined environments.
- The Hilt controller was designed specifically for gloved operation and integration with military standard systems including Android Team Awareness Kit and ArduPilot/Betaflight firmware.
- The Drone Dominance Program uses competition to identify top-performing manufacturers and place direct orders, creating a procurement pathway that bypasses traditional competitive bid cycles.
The fine print
- Vector declined to disclose contract terms, timelines or detailed production schedules for the 5,000-unit order.
- The order amount is undisclosed; classification or acquisition strategy (full order quantity, option years, or tranched funding) is not stated.
Source: Defense News · Nov 5, 2026 · Drafted with Claude, reviewed by Industrial Base Alpha.
