The United States Army National Guard has launched a procurement effort to acquire several small unmanned aerial systems for training and operational support, according to solicitations published March 7, 2026.
The request, issued by the Tennessee Army National Guard, focuses on lightweight drones that meet the U.S. military’s Blue UAS security certification requirements.
These systems are intended for use by the 117th Regiment Regional Training Institute at the Volunteer Training Site in Smyrna, Tennessee, where National Guard personnel train on modern battlefield technologies and develop small-drone operating skills.
Small drones have become standard tools for reconnaissance, situational awareness, and field training, allowing units to practice aerial surveillance, mapping, and tactical observation without relying on larger or more expensive aircraft.
According to the solicitations, the Tennessee National Guard is seeking three categories of small drones. Each request covers two systems and requires the equipment to be approved under the Blue UAS program, which verifies cybersecurity protections and trusted supply chains.
One request calls for drones comparable to the Neros Archer with the Crossbow payload, designed for compact reconnaissance and tactical observation. Another seeks systems similar to the FlightWave Edge 130, a fixed-wing aircraft used for longer-endurance surveillance and mapping.
A third solicitation requests platforms comparable to the ModalAI Stinger Vision FPV 3.5, a small first-person-view drone suited to close-range training missions. All contracts are structured as firm fixed-price awards and limited to qualified small businesses.
This procurement falls under the aircraft manufacturing category of the North American Industry Classification System.
Photo: Neros Archer first-person view drone – Calah Thompson
Source: Defence Blog