Ukrainian defense tech company BlueBird Tech has been selected to join the Pentagon’s Drone Dominance Program, a major US initiative aimed at rapidly scaling battlefield drone capabilities and reshaping modern warfare.
The company reported that it will take part in the “Road to the Gauntlet: Phase 2 Qualifier” alongside its US partner, Zaruba, in what officials describe as one of the most competitive testing stages for next-generation unmanned systems.
The participation of Ukrainian engineers is being supported by the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco, which has also asked the US Embassy in Ukraine to assist with visa processing for BlueBird Tech representatives involved in the program.
“Drone Dominance is a large-scale, next-generation international technology initiative that sets the pace for the entire unmanned systems industry,” said Valery Zarubin, co-founder of BlueBird Tech.
“For us, it’s a chance to show Ukrainian engineering and help shape the standards of the future battlefield.”
The Pentagon-backed program is focused on accelerating procurement of small strike drones for frontline units, bringing together defense firms, engineers, and military experts to test and refine deployable technologies.
“Road to the Gauntlet” is one of its most demanding phases, stress-testing systems across autonomous platforms, FPV and ISR drones, AI-enabled battlefield tools, resilient communications, electronic warfare, counter-drone systems, and robotic integration in combat scenarios.
Program materials outline ambitions to spend up to $1 billion over two years and acquire more than 200,000 drones by 2027.
For BlueBird Tech, the selection signals deeper integration into the US defense-tech ecosystem and access to one of the most influential UAV development pipelines in the world.
“Modern war is increasingly a contest of engineering speed and adaptation,” Zarubin said. “Ukraine is already part of shaping that new global defense architecture.”
Separately, the company said it has completed first demonstration tests of its fixed-wing UAV, the “Beberdrone,” showing flight performance, maneuverability, and launch procedures.
The drone is designed for strikes up to 45 km behind enemy lines and carries a payload of up to 9 kg, intended to hit armored vehicles, fortifications, warehouses, and infantry positions.
This report is based on a press release shared by BlueBird Tech.