U.S. Air Force awards $490M contract for new counter-drone systems

The United States Air Force has awarded Trust Automation a $490 million contract to research, develop, prototype, and produce counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) technologies, the company announced on January 12, 2026.

According to Trust Automation, the indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract will support the rapid development and transition of unmanned and counter-unmanned aircraft capabilities. Work will take place at the company’s facility in San Luis Obispo, California, with completion expected by August 20, 2030.

In a statement, Trust Automation Chief Executive Officer Ty Safreno said: “We’re incredibly proud to have been selected for this critical C-UAS project. This contract underscores our commitment to developing cutting-edge anti-drone technologies that address our most pressing security challenges, protect our armed forces and contribute to the safety of our nation.”

The Air Force contract centers on the company’s established work in counter-small unmanned aircraft technologies, including systems designed to disrupt UAS activity in command-and-control and GNSS bands.

As noted by the company, Trust Automation’s core capability is the Small-Unmanned Air Defense System (SUADS), a layered defense system that supports both fixed-site protection—such as Air Force Base Defense Operations Centers—and rapidly deployable defensive missions in combat zones. The system provides detection, tracking, and defeat of Group 1, 2, and 2+ aerial threats using modular components tailored for different operational environments.

Alongside SUADS, Trust Automation highlighted its GAT UAS Jammer, a weapons-mountable device that enables personnel to counter drone activity directly in GNSS frequency bands. The company said these systems form part of a broader suite of radio-frequency tools designed to help U.S. forces secure critical operations against emerging aerial threats.

Trust Automation described its technology portfolio as field-proven, citing ongoing deliveries of counter-drone systems for U.S. defense applications. The company said the new Air Force program will accelerate the development of next-generation defensive tools, with rapid prototyping and evaluation integrated into the contract structure.

The contract comes as the U.S. military expands investment in counter-drone technologies amid rising operational challenges posed by small unmanned aircraft, including in contested environments where low-cost drones are used for surveillance, targeting, and disruptive attacks.

Trust Automation said the award supports its broader mission entering 2026: delivering “innovative, reliable and mission-critical technologies that empower the U.S. Air Force and other defense partners to stay ahead of emerging threats.”