# Pentagon selects nine startups to split orders for 60,000 drones

_Published Monday, September 21, 2026 at 3:06 AM EDT · Robotics, Capital, Policy · Latest · Tier 1 — Major_

Nine drone startups, including Eric Schmidt-founded Perennial, will split US Defense Department orders for 60,000 drones, The Information reported. The procurement is structured as a competition and bars China-made parts, directing a large military order toward suppliers that can meet the domestic sourcing requirement. The orders have not yet been described as completed deliveries.

## Sources

- [Techmeme](https://www.techmeme.com/260921/p3#a260921p3)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/0NdrSHolyTFRbmpw_foTJ9
Published: 2026-09-21T07:06:28.637Z
Story chronology: 2026-09-21T05:05:34.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-09-21T10:40:51.916Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)