WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded CACI International a three-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract worth up to $500 million to provide its SkyValor counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) and related technologies to the U.S. military.
The contract will support the Pentagon's Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401), which oversees day-to-day counter-drone operations and related procurements across the joint force. The effort is part of Domestic Shield, a JIATF-401 initiative focused on strengthening drone defense for U.S. military installations, borders, and critical infrastructure.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the Army Contracting Command at Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, awarded the firm-fixed-price contract on July 28, 2026, following a competitive process that received 50 bids. The contract is scheduled to run through July 15, 2029.
The initial task order, valued at $25 million, covers the delivery of SkyValor systems for deployment at critical mission locations. Neither the Department of Defense nor CACI has publicly identified the deployment sites or disclosed how many systems will ultimately be delivered under the agreement.
SkyValor Designed for Continuous Counter-Drone Operations
SkyValor is a trailer-based counter-drone system designed to detect, track, and defeat hostile unmanned aircraft systems. It provides early warning, long-range detection, and non-kinetic defeat capabilities against both small and larger drones, including cellular-enabled platforms.
According to CACI, the system combines automated sense-and-shoot algorithms, radio-frequency sensing, and artificial intelligence-enabled electronic warfare. In some cases, SkyValor can jam drone targets from more than 40 miles away. It also offers low-collateral defeat options, including capture nets that can engage targets from about four miles away, helping reduce risks to surrounding areas.
The company said the system is designed for 24/7 automated sensing and can address threats ranging from small first-person-view (FPV) drones to larger Group 5 unmanned aircraft.
Additional Variants Included Under the Contract
The IDIQ contract provides JIATF-401 with flexibility to order additional CACI counter-drone systems as part of a layered defense approach.
These include:
- CORIAN v3, a permanent fixed-site version of the SkyValor system focused on radio-frequency capabilities.
- BEAM (Backpackable Electronic Attack Module), a portable, low size, weight, and power system that provides radio-frequency detection, direction finding, and electronic attack capabilities.
According to the company, both systems can be configured for fixed or mobile operations.
A separate contract will also provide a truck-mounted variant of SkyValor, giving military forces a highly mobile counter-drone capability.
Operational Testing Led to Full-Rate Production
Before the contract award, JIATF-401 conducted operational evaluations of SkyValor at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. During the testing, the system successfully detected and defeated multiple small unmanned aircraft systems operating beyond visual line of sight.
Following the evaluations, JIATF-401 approved SkyValor for deployment at critical sites, and CACI announced that the system has entered full-rate production.
The new award follows an earlier JIATF-401 Commercial Solutions Opening contract for four SkyValor units, including one integrated onto a heavy-duty truck.
Officials Highlight Need for Layered Drone Defense
Col. Tony Lindh, Deputy Director for Rapid Acquisitions at JIATF-401, said the contract structure provides the flexibility needed to rapidly field counter-drone technologies.
"Moving at the speed of relevance requires acquisition reform and contracts like this enable the procurement agility we need to rapidly deliver c-UAS technology to our warfighters," Lindh said.
He added that using an IDIQ contract helps avoid overly specific product-focused programs and allows the task force to procure multiple systems because no single solution can address every drone threat.
CACI President and Chief Executive Officer John Mengucci said the company is preparing to deliver operational systems following successful testing.
"Warfighters need a decisive advantage against drone threats that are faster, more accessible, and harder to detect. With successful operational evaluations complete, we are moving SkyValor into full-rate production to deliver mission-ready protection where it is needed most," Mengucci said.
The contract is part of the Department of Defense's ongoing effort to expand counter-drone capabilities as the military continues to strengthen protection for personnel, installations, and other critical locations through a layered air defense approach. Neither CACI nor JIATF-401 has disclosed the total number of SkyValor systems expected to be procured under the agreement beyond the initial task order.
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