Pentagon inks $500 million deal with Perennial Autonomy for counter-drone tech

The Pentagon awarded Perennial Autonomy, a California-based startup, a $500 million contract for counter-drone technology including AI-enabled systems like Merops interceptors and Bumblebee quadcopters. The contract, awarded by the Joint Interagency Task Force 401, supports the U.S. military's defense against drone threats, particularly Iranian Sheheds, as part of the broader Drone Dominance initiative.