From swarming drones over Ukraine to maritime autonomy in the Indo-Pacific, the decisive edge now rests on uncrewed and autonomous systems. The landscape of modern warfare is evolving faster than our legacy defense acquisition frameworks can accommodate. To preserve that edge, the United States must not only innovate, but also fix how we buy and scale technology.

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is a critical opportunity to do just that. This debate is not routine—it’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernize acquisition frameworks that will determine U.S. readiness for decades. For the uncrewed systems sector, the stakes are especially high. Delays in acquisition don’t just waste time—they blunt deterrence, hinder innovation, slow industrial base growth, and prevent the warfighter from having the most advanced and effective tools to promote deterrence and to fight and win if necessary.

These challenges hit hardest at the edge of innovation. There’s broad recognition that autonomous technologies are advancing too quickly to be bound in the prescriptive, narrow and multi-year acquisition guardrails and authorities the Department of War (DoW) and Congress have spent decades building. Startups, primes and non-traditional defense suppliers are all producing autonomous capabilities that can deliver asymmetric advantages. Yet, too often, novel technologies stall in prototype programs, never reaching scaled production because of bureaucratic inertia and risk-averse procurement processes.

Ongoing Legislation for a Stronger Industrial Base

This year’s NDAA deliberations feature several proposals aimed at breaking down these barriers to rapid acquisition, including reforms drawn from two in-progress pieces of legislation: The Strategic and Proactive Engagement to Encourage Development (SPEED) Act, which passed the U.S. House in mid-September, and the Facilitating Optimal Reforms for Growth in Emerging Defense (FORGED) Act, led in the U.S. Senate.

The SPEED Act underscores the urgency of reform. It expands contracting flexibilities and opens clearer pathways for innovators to partner with DoW. But the FORGED Act goes further. It is the most comprehensive modernization package yet, designed to cut procurement bottlenecks, expand access for nontraditional suppliers, and create predictable routes from pilot programs into scalable production. For autonomy developers, FORGED is particularly valuable, as it tackles the core obstacle holding back integration of emerging technologies.

Together, these legislative efforts signal a growing consensus in Congress: The current procurement system is insufficient to equip the modern warfighter with autonomous and uncrewed technology to stay in front of our global competitors. And reform is about more than moving faster. It is about aligning resources with the greatest needs and building a resilient, secure and competitive industrial base.

Meanwhile, DoW has taken steps internally, such as rescinding the outdated JCIDS process. But without congressional action through FORGED, such moves risk being fragmented. Lasting change requires Congress and DoD to move in concert, not in parallel.

Securing the Supply Chain and Empowering Innovators

Reform must also strengthen security. The uncrewed systems market is global, and we must ensure the platforms our military relies on are built with trusted components and secure software. Legislative and policy efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing and prioritize U.S.-made systems are vital for national security. They also create a powerful incentive for industry participants to invest in secure technologies and onshore production, further strengthening our industrial base resiliency.

For startups and small businesses that represent the bleeding edge of innovation in autonomy, these reforms are a lifeline. A more predictable acquisition system lowers barriers, levels the playing field, and ensures the best solutions, whether from primes or emerging players, reach the warfighter.

When nontraditional suppliers can effectively partner with the DoW, it introduces new solutions and healthy competition that benefits the entire ecosystem. The FORGED and SPEED Acts both support an increased emphasis on “commercial-off-the-shelf” purchasing practices and it is paramount that all stakeholders within the defense ecosystem are aligned on this view. As a result, our country will be better equipped to respond to emerging threats with agility and effectiveness.

The implications extend across all uncrewed domains—air, ground and maritime. Whether it’s deploying and countering swarms of autonomous drones, using uncrewed ground vehicles for logistics and reconnaissance, or advancing uncrewed underwater vehicles for enhanced domain awareness, the operational demand for these systems is clear.

Bridging the Gap Between Industry and Government

Implementing meaningful change requires sustained dialogue and collaboration among policymakers, military leaders, senior civilian officials, and industry innovators. Organizations like AUVSI have a vital role in this ecosystem by connecting policy, technical expertise and relationships across state, local and federal levels. We ensure the industry’s voice informs policy decisions while helping our members navigate and align with the nation’s evolving national security priorities.

In-person events are particularly well-suited to shape the national policy paradigm. At AUVSI Defense this October, sessions such as Mission-Ready Acquisition will bring together DoD officials, lawmakers and innovators to tackle these challenges directly. These are not just conversations, they are opportunities to shape the reforms that will define the future of defense acquisition. By convening this dialogue, AUVSI is helping bridge the divide between commercial innovation and government adoption. We encourage you to join us.

The Time to Modernize is Now

The message is clear: The U.S. cannot afford to wait. Adversaries are already fielding attritable systems at scale. Without reform, American innovators will remain stuck in prototype purgatory, and our forces will face tomorrow’s threats with yesterday’s tools. The provisions in FORGED—and reinforced by SPEED—offer a path to an agile, resilient and competitive posture.

By acting now, Congress and the DoW can unlock the full potential of the uncrewed systems industry, strengthen our industrial base, and ensure U.S. forces are equipped with the autonomy and innovation needed to preserve our strategic advantage.