Pentagon seeks containerized drone launch and recovery systems to scale autonomous operations
The U.S. Department of Defense is seeking containerized systems that can launch, recover and refit drones with minimal human involvement. Through the Defense Innovation Unit, the Pentagon has issued a Commercial Solutions Opening for a Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System, or CADDS, aimed at speeding deployment of larger unmanned fleets while cutting operator workload and exposure to risk.
The program targets a core limitation in current drone operations. Many missions still rely on a one-to-one model in which each aircraft needs a dedicated operator. That approach constrains scale and slows response in fast-moving or contested environments. DIU said it wants containerized infrastructure that can be moved quickly by vehicle, ship or aircraft, then set up for automated operations with local or remote command and control. The objective is not simply to field more aircraft, but to change the support model around them so larger formations can be launched and sustained with far fewer people.
Under the solicitation, proposed systems must support autonomous or semi-autonomous handling of drones inside containerized units. That includes automated storage, launch, recovery and refit between sorties. The Defense Department also wants systems that can work with both homogeneous fleets and mixed groups of aircraft, allowing different drone types and payloads to operate from common infrastructure. Crew size is another central metric. The government said solutions should require no more than two personnel to operate, with lower manpower preferred. DIU also specified compatibility with the Modular Open Systems Approach, signaling that the Pentagon wants platforms that can be upgraded over time through new software, hardware and subsystems without a full redesign.
Reliability in austere conditions is a key requirement. The systems are expected to function in low light and adverse weather while maintaining readiness. The push reflects a broader effort to reduce the number of personnel positioned near active flight operations, especially in contested or high-risk areas. Automated launch and recovery can cut exposure while increasing sortie tempo by shortening turnaround and reducing manual tasks. The solicitation is open to U.S. and international companies that qualify under Other Transaction Authority rules, a contracting pathway designed to move prototype work faster than traditional acquisition channels. Responses are due by Feb. 17, 2026, and selected firms may be invited to submit full proposals for prototype agreements.
If the prototypes meet performance goals, the Pentagon could move toward fielding containerized autonomous drone infrastructure across multiple operational units. That would mark a shift from buying aircraft alone to investing in the broader operating ecosystem around them, including launch, recovery, command and control, logistics and sustainment. For industry, the message is direct: demand is rising for drone-in-a-box systems, automated hangars and modular launch platforms that combine autonomy with open, upgradeable architectures. For the military, the payoff could be faster deployment, lower manpower needs and a more scalable way to operate large drone forces.