Army Selects Kraus Hamdani's K1000ULE Drone
The electric Group 2 drone joins a long-term, budgeted Army acquisition program for reconnaissance and target acquisition.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Military
The U.S. Army has selected the K1000ULE, a fully electric Group 2 drone made by California company Kraus Hamdani Aerospace, for a program of record. The selection follows a U.S. Air Forces Central contract to the company worth up to $270 million earlier this year.
Why it matters
A program of record is a budgeted, long-term acquisition, so the selection signals sustained Army demand for the drone rather than a one-time purchase. The aircraft was built to keep critical capabilities airborne longer while reducing the burden on forces.
The Air Forces Central contract carries a ceiling of up to $270 million, while the K1000ULE flew more than 75 hours nonstop in 2023 and weighs 21 to 55 pounds. The number of aircraft the Army plans to procure has not been disclosed.
The players
Kraus Hamdani Aerospace
A California company that developed the fully electric K1000ULE drone and holds the U.S. Air Forces Central contract for it.
U.S. Army
The military service that selected the K1000ULE for a long-term, budgeted program of record for reconnaissance and target acquisition.
1st Multi-Domain Task Force
The Army unit that used the K1000ULE during Static Focus 3 in Washington state and Exercise Salaknib 25 in the Philippines.
The details
Under the award, Kraus Hamdani will deliver K1000ULE aircraft for Army reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition. The drone takes off and lands vertically without a runway, and solar panels on its wings recharge its batteries in flight. The 1st Multi-Domain Task Force used it during Static Focus 3 in Washington state in March 2025 and Exercise Salaknib 25 in the Philippines in May 2025.
Timeline
2023: A K1000ULE flew for more than 75 hours without landing.
March 2025: The 1st Multi-Domain Task Force used the drone during Static Focus 3 in Washington state.
May 2025: The 1st Multi-Domain Task Force used the drone during Exercise Salaknib 25 in the Philippines.
Earlier in 2026: U.S. Air Forces Central awarded an IDIQ contract worth up to $270 million.
November 13, 2026: The Army announced the program of record selection.
Roadmap
The K1000ULE is already listed on the Defense Innovation Unit's Blue UAS lists, which clear drones for defense use. The Army's program-of-record selection moves the aircraft from approved-for-use to a sustained, budgeted acquisition.
For Army units, the program gives a budgeted path to field a drone that can stay airborne for long periods without a runway. Taxpayers are funding a multi-year procurement, with the contract ceiling of up to $270 million setting an upper bound on early spending.
The takeaway
Sustained military procurement of long-endurance, runway-free drones signals that the Army is prioritizing persistent surveillance capability. Watch for the aircraft quantities and total program value, which the announcement has not yet disclosed.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Military news across the United States.
