U.S. Navy hires small firm for drone-mimicking planes

The U.S. Navy awarded KestrelX an indefinite-delivery contract with a $9,987,285 ceiling for low-observable target aircraft and engineering support through March 2028. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division issued the noncompetitive Phase III Small Business Innovation Research follow-on for fleet exercises, ship and aircrew training, flight operations and technical integration. KestrelX previously flew JSX-2 microjets and Risen KX-2 ultralights to replicate threats including the Shahed-136, but the Navy has not identified the aircraft that will meet the new low-observable requirement. No funds were obligated at award; payments, locations and event quantities will depend on later task orders.