The United States Army National Guard has launched a new procurement process to purchase small drones intended for military training in the state of Tennessee.
The initiative, disclosed in official documents published on March 7, 2026, provides for the acquisition of lightweight unmanned aircraft that meet the security requirements of the Blue UAS program used by the U.S. Armed Forces.
The equipment will be used by the 117th Regiment of the Regional Training Institute, located in Smyrna, where National Guard soldiers receive training in modern combat technologies. Compact drones have become common tools in military exercises because they allow the simulation of aerial operations, reconnaissance, and information gathering without relying on larger and more expensive platforms.
Among the models being sought are systems comparable to the Neros Archer, designed for tactical observation missions, the FlightWave Edge 130, a fixed-wing drone used for longer-duration aerial reconnaissance, and the ModalAI Stinger Vision FPV 3.5, an FPV platform used in short-range operations and training scenarios.
The requests call for the delivery of two systems of each type and are restricted to small aircraft manufacturing companies. In addition, all drones must be approved under the Blue UAS program, which certifies equipment considered secure from a cybersecurity and supply chain perspective for military use.
Source: Defence Blog | Photo: X @Defence_Index | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
🇺🇸 BREAKING: The U.S. National Guard has launched a procurement program for small FPV kamikaze drones.
The drones will be used for training and operational support at the 117th Regional Training Institute in Smyrna, Tennessee.
Three different drone systems are planned:
◽Neros… pic.twitter.com/qAj4hRm5wN— Defence Index (@Defence_Index) March 9, 2026
