Military Operations Get Big Boost With Droneshield-Defenture Partnership
Defenture and DroneShield Partner to Deliver Mobile Counter-Drone Protection for Military Operations …
23. June 2026

The U.S. Army has awarded a pair of lucrative contracts to Palladyne AI, a leading defence and industrial technology company, to research, develop, and operationally validate SwarmOS and Gremlin-X with its warfighters under the Army’s Disruptive Applications Broad Agency Announcement (DABAA). These contracts were competitively selected marking a significant milestone in the development of autonomous systems.
The hardest problem in autonomous systems isn’t making one platform smart, it’s making heterogeneous platforms from different manufacturers collaborate intelligently without dependence on centralized infrastructure that adversaries can target and defeat," said Dr. Denis Garagic, Chief Technology Officer and Principal Investigator at Palladyne AI. “We solved that. SwarmOS operates on edge hardware in the field in degraded and denied communications environments. These contracts take that proven capability into Army operational validation.”
SwarmOS is a cutting-edge edge AI autonomy and collaborative autonomy software stack developed by Palladyne AI, enabling a single operator to command an entire team of autonomous unmanned systems from multiple manufacturers simultaneously—a cross-platform, decentralized capability protected by Palladyne AI’s patent portfolio.
On the other hand, Advanced Autonomous UAV Solutions for mission-critical applications and contested environments are becoming increasingly important. GuideTech is advancing Gremlin-X (formerly Banshee) as a low-cost, reusable Group 2 strike UAS designed to provide small, dispersed formations with an affordable means to engage time-critical targets without requiring centralized control, exquisite communications, or expendable airframes per strike.
Gremlin-X is a reusable but attritable multirotor UAV that can deliver munitions with precision in denied, degraded, intermittent, and limited (DDIL) environments. In operation, Gremlin-X is an autonomous loitering munition that can return for reuse, reducing recurring costs primarily driven by the munition rather than the platform.
Under the contract, Palladyne AI will demonstrate SwarmOS and IDGA Presents Its Inaugural Next Generation UAS Summit, showcasing its capabilities across a series of U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division (4ID) exercises in Colorado and California.
These engagements will evaluate SwarmOS in direct support of 4ID Reconnaissance and Target Acquisition mission requirements, operating on Army-specified platforms via the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK), the Army’s widely deployed command-and-control interface. The Northern Strike 26-2 represents another major demonstration milestone of Palladyne AI’s capabilities.
The company will demonstrate SwarmOS, IntelliSwarm™, and Gremlin-X at this premier Department of War joint exercise, involving more than 9,000 participants, bringing the validated technology into a joint exercise environment for the first time. This event will provide a unique opportunity to showcase the effectiveness of Palladyne AI’s solutions in real-world scenarios.
Defenture and DroneShield Partner to Deliver Mobile Counter-Drone Protection for Military Operations, marking a significant shift in how the U.S. Army is engaging with autonomous systems, moving from evaluation to funded operational use in the field.
These contracts mark a decisive step forward in Palladyne AI’s journey towards becoming a leading supplier of autonomous systems. The successful demonstration of SwarmOS and Gremlin-X will not only validate the company’s capabilities but also pave the way for further collaborations with government agencies and private industry partners.
As the technology continues to evolve, Advanced Autonomous UAV Solutions are expected to play an increasingly important role in future military operations. Palladyne AI is well-positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities and remain at the forefront of innovation.
The collaboration between Palladyne AI and the U.S. Army represents a strategic partnership aimed at driving innovation and advancements in autonomous systems. This relationship will not only enhance the effectiveness of military operations but also contribute to the development of more efficient and effective solutions for civilian applications, such as logistics, surveillance, and environmental monitoring.
In conclusion, the award of this contract by the U.S. Army marks a significant milestone in Palladyne AI’s journey towards becoming a leading supplier of autonomous systems. The successful demonstration of SwarmOS and Gremlin-X will not only validate the company’s capabilities but also pave the way for further collaborations with government agencies and private industry partners.
As the technology continues to evolve, Advanced Autonomous UAV Solutions are expected to play an increasingly important role in future military operations. With its expertise in edge AI autonomy and collaborative autonomy software, Palladyne AI is poised to make a significant impact on the future of defence and security, driving growth and advancement in the defence industry.
The collaboration between Palladyne AI and the U.S. Army represents a strategic partnership aimed at driving innovation and advancements in autonomous systems. This relationship will not only enhance the effectiveness of military operations but also contribute to the development of more efficient and effective solutions for civilian applications, such as logistics, surveillance, and environmental monitoring.
Palladyne AI’s partnership with the U.S. Army marks a significant step forward in the development of autonomous systems, expected to be increasingly important in future military operations. As the technology continues to evolve, Palladyne AI is well-positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities and remain at the forefront of innovation.