Methods for proving that an autonomous system will behave as intended, including testing, formal verification and runtime monitoring.

Cheap enough to lose in combat without changing plans, but not built to be thrown away on every mission.

The advanced-capabilities track of the Australia, UK and U.S. partnership, which includes joint work on uncrewed and autonomous systems.

A proposed four-star command for autonomous warfare, targeted to stand up by October 2027, and the drone portfolio group that preceded it.

The layered software that lets a vehicle perceive, plan and act: from low-level flight control up through navigation, perception and mission behaviors.

A pre-negotiated agreement that sets terms and prices so units can place orders quickly, without a new competition for each buy.

A Department of War program that vets drones and components as compliant with U.S. supply-chain law so units can buy them without a waiver.

A standing solicitation for research proposals on a broad topic, used by DARPA, service labs and research offices.

The region of space between Earth and the Moon, now a focus of Space Force planning because of growing Chinese activity there.

The Air Force program to field uncrewed jets that fly alongside crewed fighters, carrying sensors and weapons under pilot direction.

A streamlined solicitation that asks industry for existing commercial products rather than custom development, judged on a short brief and a demonstration.

Systems and tactics for detecting, tracking, identifying and defeating hostile drones.

The Pentagon's research agency, which funds high-risk programs years ahead of fielding, including much of the foundational work on military autonomy.

The Department of War organization that buys commercial technology quickly through Commercial Solutions Openings and prototype agreements.

The U.S. military department, renamed from the Department of Defense in 2025; Autonomy Wire uses the current name except when quoting documents.

A weapon that uses a focused laser to damage a target, used against drones at kilowatt-class power levels.

Online catalogs run by the Army and Navy where approved commercial drones, payloads and components can be ordered by units with a Basic Ordering Agreement.

Running perception and decision software on a computer aboard the vehicle rather than sending data to a server.

Using the electromagnetic spectrum to disrupt an adversary's sensors and communications, or to protect your own.

A small quadcopter flown by a pilot wearing goggles that show the drone's camera view, now the most common attack drone in Ukraine.

Finding position without satellite navigation, by vision, inertial sensors, terrain matching, radio beacons or other means.

AUVSI's industry-run certification that checks drones and components against the same supply-chain and cybersecurity standards as Blue UAS, for buyers outside the Department of War.

The Department of War's size classes for uncrewed aircraft, based on weight, operating altitude and speed.

Uncrewed aircraft under 1,320 pounds that fly below 18,000 feet, the class most tactical fixed-wing military drones fall into.

A directed-energy weapon that uses a burst of microwave energy to disable the electronics of drones, including several at once.

Design and policy rules about where a person sits in a weapon system's decisions to select and engage targets.

Combining a combustion engine with electric motors, used in drones to gain endurance, quiet operation and electrical power for payloads.

A drone built to fly into or shoot down other drones, offering a cheaper defeat option than missiles.

Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance: the collection of information about an adversary by sensors, including from uncrewed systems.

The joint organization set up in 2025 to lead the Department of War's counter-drone effort, succeeding the Joint Counter-small UAS Office.

Small uncrewed systems released from a larger aircraft, vehicle or vessel to extend its reach with sensors, jammers or warheads.

Operating crewed and uncrewed systems together so a person directs several machines rather than flying one.

A requirement that systems use published interfaces so components from different vendors can be swapped without redesign.

The annual law that sets defense policy and authorizes spending, and the usual vehicle for rules on drones, autonomy and supply chains.

The provision of the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act that bars the Department of War from buying drones and key components made in China or by covered foreign entities.

An uncrewed aircraft built to fly into its target and detonate, used in large numbers in Ukraine and increasingly bought by U.S. forces.

A contracting authority that lets the Department of War sign prototype and production agreements outside the normal Federal Acquisition Regulation.

A 2026 Pentagon initiative, led by Owen West, that proposed the Autonomous Warfare Command and a faster model for buying autonomous systems.

Maneuvering one spacecraft close to another to inspect, service or interfere with it, which requires onboard autonomy because of communication delays.

A budget procedure that lets the Senate pass spending and tax legislation by a simple majority, used in 2025 for a large defense package.

The FAA rule requiring most drones flying in U.S. airspace to broadcast an identification and location signal.

The Pentagon initiative announced in 2023 to field thousands of low-cost autonomous systems within two years, later extended to counter-drone defense.

A notice asking industry to describe what it can offer, used to shape a future requirement. It is not a solicitation and carries no award.

Federal programs that fund small businesses to develop technology the government wants, in phases from feasibility (Phase I) to prototype (Phase II) to transition (Phase III).

A group of uncrewed systems that coordinate with each other to act as one, rather than being flown individually.

A one-to-nine scale for how mature a technology is, from basic principles (1) to proven in operations (9).

A land vehicle that drives itself or is remotely operated, used for logistics, reconnaissance, breaching and, increasingly, fires.

A boat that operates without a crew aboard, from small explosive-laden craft to ship-sized vessels.

A submersible that operates without people aboard, from torpedo-sized survey vehicles to extra-large vehicles with the range of a small submarine.