SkyFoundry Act of 2025
The SkyFoundry Act of 2025 would require the Secretary of Defense to create a program aimed at rapidly developing, testing, and scaling the manufacture of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), with possible expansion into related energetics and other autonomous technologies. The program would be administered by the Army and placed within the Defense Industrial Resilience Consortium. It envisions two main facilities: a government-owned innovation facility (R&D, testing, and rapid design evolution) and a government-owned production facility (mass production capability). The bill would authorize flexible acquisition tools (such as Other Transaction Authority and a middle tier of acquisition) to speed development and fielding, allow government-contractor hybrids and public-private partnerships, and set aside substantial capacity (up to 1,000,000 sUAS annually) for production. It also directs priority use and potential expansion of existing Army Depot infrastructure, establishes strong government rights to resulting intellectual property, and invokes the Defense Production Act to bolster domestic production capacity, stockpiling, and surge capability. The act would also authorize expedited approvals or regulatory waivers to accelerate the program.
Key Points
- 1Establishes the SkyFoundry Program to rapidly develop, test, and scale production of small unmanned aircraft systems, with possible expansion to related autonomous systems and energetics.
- 2Two core components: (1) an innovation facility for R&D/testing, run by the Army under its Futures Command coordination; (2) a production facility with the capacity to produce up to 1,000,000 sUAS per year, identified and operated by the Army Materiel Command.
- 3Uses alternative acquisition mechanisms to speed progress, including Other Transaction Authority and the middle tier of acquisition for rapid prototyping and fielding.
- 4Allows a Government Owned/Government Operated/Contractor Augmented model, enabling multiyear contracts and hybrid teams combining military, civilian, and contractor personnel; permits public-private partnerships.
- 5Prioritizes utilizing or adapting existing Army Depot facilities, and requires at least two sites (one for the innovation facility, one for the production facility); specifies site-selection criteria for the production site, including large acreage and proximity to multiple states.
- 6Secures robust IP rights for the Government, aiming for government purpose rights to enable ongoing production, sustainment, and modification.
- 7Designates use of the Defense Production Act Title III to prioritize and support domestic capacity for sUAS and related systems, including investments in scale-up, stockpiles, and surge manufacturing.
- 8Authorizes expedited approvals and regulatory waivers to remove or modify barriers to rapid development, acquisition, and production.