The US Army has taken a significant step in advancing its drone capabilities by awarding a $20.9 million contract to PDW for the procurement of C100 quadcopter drones and their accompanying Multi-Mission Payloads. This contract signifies the third engagement between PDW and the Army under the Transformation in Contact (TiC) initiative, which aims to expedite the transition of cutting-edge commercial technologies to active service through practical deployment and evaluation.
The C100 is characterized as a small, modular drone designed to facilitate reconnaissance tasks and multi-mission support. The suite of Multi-Mission Payloads that accompanies the C100 includes three specialized modules, each tailored to operate in GPS-denied conditions, extend communications capabilities beyond the visible line of sight, and execute signals intelligence and electronic warfare operations.
Ryan Gury, CEO and co-founder of PDW, emphasized the need for the US to leverage technological advancements to maintain a competitive edge in contemporary warfare. “In order to maintain a competitive edge in the current unpredictable state of war, the US must embrace technological advancements as they are introduced to adapt faster than our opponents,” he stated. Gury highlighted the transformative potential of drones like the C100 on modern battlefields.
The latest batch of C100 systems and their payloads will be allocated to the 18th Airborne Corps and the US Army Special Operations Command. Previous contracts under the TiC initiative saw the delivery of C100 drones to seven Army Project Manager Unmanned Aircraft Systems units for comprehensive testing and operational assessment.
PDW’s previous achievements include a $15 million award in December 2024, which resulted in C100 systems being deployed across multiple commands, including Indo-Pacific, European, and Central commands, where they were evaluated in diverse operational scenarios.
To enhance its small unmanned aerial system (UAS) capabilities, the Army has been actively modernizing its drone programs. A notable initiative launched in January 2024 involved the replacement of the Skydio RQ-28A quadcopter, focusing on acquiring more sophisticated systems endowed with improved autonomy, sensory functionality, and resilience in GPS-denied and electronic warfare environments.
By November 2024, the Army had begun deploying Teal quadcopters, intended to supersede older reconnaissance units, delivering small, easily transportable drones optimized for complex terrains and rapid operational demands. More recently, in May 2025, the Army took delivery of its inaugural X10D drones. This larger category of unmanned systems aims to bridge the functional divide between smaller tactical drones and larger UAVs, promising enhanced payload capacity and operational range.
These developments reflect the Army’s commitment to integrating advanced drone technologies to support a wide range of military operations, adapting swiftly to the dynamic conditions of modern warfare.
