As the demand for unmanned aerial systems and cutting-edge counter-drone defenses surges across military and domestic operations, the logistical challenge of procuring this rapidly evolving technology has never been more urgent.
At the heart of the effort to equip warfighters and federal agencies with this technology is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support’s Construction and Equipment supply chain, which has established itself as the government’s premier source for drone and counterdrone solutions.
“Our team recognized early on that the traditional acquisition process was simply too slow for the increased demand of this rapidly evolving technology,” said Marko Graham, Construction and Equipment’s director of customer operations. “We responded by creating an ecosystem that pairs expert, hands-on guidance with preestablished, highly competitive contracting tools. The result is a streamlined pathway that cuts through red tape, getting secure equipment into the hands of operators in days rather than months.”
Responding to a War Department directive to ensure U.S. dominance in unmanned systems, the Construction and Equipment team developed a two-pronged strategy to simplify procurement and accelerate delivery: the online Drone Corridor Marketplace and the creation of the Rapid Entry Autonomous Procurement Requirements team.
“Inexpensive, readily available drones have fundamentally changed the way that war will be fought. They are as integral to readiness and lethality as any other piece of critical equipment on the battlefield,” said John S. Cuorato Jr., Construction and Equipment’s Fire and Marine division chief and REAPR team lead. “As the premier DOW source for UAS, C&E leadership determined we needed to go further to provide even more support to our customers. That meant forming the REAPR team to put a complete and total focus on UAS purchases.”
“Customers demand an easy ordering platform for these commercial products. Creating the Drone Corridor offered the best avenue,” he added.
The Drone Corridor is hosted on DLA’s FedMall, an e-commerce site for federal agencies and state government partners. It provides a streamlined point-and-click platform for ordering systems from the DOW’s Blue List of approved, secure technology.
The REAPR team’s subject matter experts assist with more complex, customized systems, working with customers and suppliers to build and procure products that fulfill a variety of operational demands.
The secret to this agility is the Special Operational Equipment Tailored Logistics Support Program, which uses preestablished contracts with vendors to bypass lengthy procurement cycles.
“The SOE TLS Program is what allows us to move fast, get the best pricing and provide total support for customers,” Cuorato said. “Orders are competed among the program’s four SOE vendors, ensuring competitive pricing. Regular SOE TLS Program orders are awarded in days or weeks. Ordering from FedMall can be days or hours to award.”
This capability is evident in its support of military commands across the globe engaged in contingency operations. Supporting current missions, DLA has awarded more than $113.8 million in UAS and counter-UAS contracts, with an average time of just 72 hours from order to award.
This same rapid response was used to help protect the homeland. DLA is serving as an acquisition partner for a nearly $250 million federal effort to equip law enforcement with counter-UAS technology for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is expected to draw over 5 million attendees to U.S. matches.
Working with partners like the White House Task Force, the Department of Homeland Security, a Joint Interagency Task Force and the FBI, Construction and Equipment has awarded millions of dollars in contracts to help host states augment their security postures, including Kansas, $2.5 million; Massachusetts, $2.6 million; New Jersey, $7.6 million; and Pennsylvania, $7.4 million. They have also awarded an additional $100 million contract to DHS.
In a statement provided to DLA, the Kansas Highway Patrol lauded DLA’s support and the speed of the acquisition.
“The Kansas Highway Patrol appreciates the Defense Logistics Agency’s support in the rapid procurement of counter-unmanned aerial system equipment. The malicious use of unmanned aerial systems, commonly known as drones, poses a growing threat to public safety. The expedited deployment of this equipment will strengthen law enforcement’s ability to detect and mitigate these risks, particularly during FIFA World Cup events in the greater Kansas City area beginning in June 2026.”
The FIFA security missions had significant challenges including tight deadlines dictated by a manufacturing base building counter-UAS equipment to order. The Construction and Equipment team also developed a new process with DLA Finance and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service to accept funds from state governments, which were unable to use standard military funding procedures.
“It’s fast, high-volume, high-visibility and critically needed,” Cuorato said. “The difference in mission just highlights our versatility. We are the program of choice for this equipment, and it is a tremendous source of pride to be able to take something that we do every day and apply it to protecting the homeland and American citizens as they enjoy this massive, international sporting event.”
Read more from this June 2026 edition of Loglines or browse more editions of the magazine on the Loglines Magazine website.