Darkhive Inc.

Darkhive Inc., a San Antonio, Texas-based self-certified small disadvantaged business, develops and manufactures small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), autonomous software architectures, and related electronic components for the Department of Defense as a prime contractor (95% of recent awards), competing predominantly on full-and-open procurements rather than set-aside vehicles despite its small disadvantaged business designation.

Darkhive's capability portfolio centers on autonomous robotics platforms and sUAS development. The vendor has delivered the Yellowjacket and Wasp modular sUAS platforms, along with specialized variants including cold-weather arctic systems, anti-access area denial reconnaissance configurations, and modular attritable swarm-delivery platforms. Recent representative work includes a $47.8 million delivery order from the Army's PEO Command Control Communications-Tactical (awarded March 18, 2026) for tactical real-time awareness and communications at echelon in support of the Capability Portfolio Executive Command Control Communications-Network program, running through September 2027; a $1.005 million firm fixed price delivery order from the Air Force Research Laboratory (September 2025) for development of test articles and platform integration capabilities for the Revenant sUAS; a $2.3 million delivery order from Communications Electronics Command (March 6, 2026) for quadcopter drone kits; and multiple Small Business Innovation Research Phase II and Phase III awards from AFRL for FleetForge DevMLSecOps development, Hands-Free Integrated Digital Operations System (HI-DOS), and modular attritable sUAS swarm-delivered effects, each carrying ceilings in the $1.2 million to $1.25 million range.

Customer concentration is heavily weighted toward AFRL. The Air Force Materiel Command Research Laboratory represents 13 awards valued at $204.6 million combined potential value (78% of the total footprint), while the Army's PEO Command Control Communications-Tactical anchors the remaining concentration with a single $47.8 million delivery order. The remaining three customer agencies — Army European Command, Army Communications Electronics Command, and DOD Washington Headquarters Service — account for $8.8 million across four awards. Darkhive holds a $195.05 million single-award Indefinite Delivery Contract with AFRL (awarded May 30, 2023, running through June 5, 2028) for software development services supporting autonomy architectures and platforms under the SBIR Phase III program. Four delivery orders have been issued against this vehicle totaling approximately $2.33 million. The vendor also holds a $5 million multiple-award Blanket Purchase Agreement with Army European Command (awarded April 11, 2025, running through March 19, 2030) for electronic components and materials supporting non-program of record equipment maintenance and UAS construction for the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and forward-deployed personnel in EUCOM and AFRICOM areas of responsibility.

Activity in the recent period shows volatility rather than sustained growth. Awards per year peaked at eight in 2023, contracted to two in 2024, recovered to three in 2025, and returned to two in 2026. Three awards carrying combined potential value of $50.7 million reach ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months, creating significant recompete exposure. Darkhive performs as a subcontractor to General Dynamics Global Force for worldwide field support to Army Communications-Electronics Command and Tobyhanna Army Depot. The vendor's primary NAICS concentration is Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (ten awards), with secondary work under Custom Computer Programming Services (seven awards), reflecting the R&D-intensive nature of SBIR engagements and autonomous software development. Combined potential value across all awards totals $262.1 million, though only $69.1 million (26% of potential value) has been obligated to date, indicating significant remaining performance and cash flow exposure on active task orders.