Mark Bathrik also explained why the Department of the Interior works with UAS vendors on security instead of simply banning noncompliant products.

The small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) can be taken on patrols in the back of a pickup truck.

Ellen Lord said there's a Trusted Capital Marketplace Program outreach event planned for October looking to bring together UAS startups and investors.

A "majority" of the companies that received OTAs will be working with the Department of Defense for the first time.

Skyborg will be an "autonomous unmanned air combat vehicle system" with open artificial intelligence software architecture and modular hardware.

Last year's challenge didn't solve the problem the agency wanted solved.