Pentagon Awards Machina Labs $9 Million Drone Manufacturing Contract

Nov 6, 2026
Machina Labs received a $9 million Pentagon contract for an 18 month trial to produce metal airframes for LUCAS attack drones using robotic arms and AI.

The Pentagon awarded Machina Labs a $9 million contract for an 18 month trial to produce metal airframes for Low Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System drones, according to Bloomberg reporting published by Investing.com. The Los Angeles robotics startup will use AI software and robotic arms in modular factories designed for rapid assembly.

The initial contract will test the manufacturing process rather than fund large drone orders. Machina Labs plans to shape low cost metal sheets into aircraft structures and targets a production cost of about $15,000 per drone.

The company said its factories could be established in about one month and eventually produce tens of thousands of drones annually. Future Pentagon orders are not guaranteed.

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