Fortem Technologies’ DroneHunter interceptor was selected by the Pentagon's JIATF-401 program as the first procurement under Replicator 2, validating the system’s readiness for rapid counter-drone deployment.
Lindon, Utah — January 15, 2026
Fortem Technologies’ DroneHunter interceptor was selected by the Pentagon's JIATF-401 program as the first procurement under Replicator 2, validating the system’s readiness for rapid counter-drone deployment. Replicator 2 is a fast-track initiative aimed at rapidly fielding deployable counter-UAS capabilities.
The selection designates Fortem’s DroneHunter® interceptor as operationally ready and eligible for accelerated scaling under the Replicator 2 framework, which is intended to bypass lengthy acquisition cycles in favor of systems already proven in real-world conditions.
The decision comes as Fortem expands U.S.-based manufacturing and deployment capacity to support rapid fielding. The company recently consolidated production, testing, and operations at its expanded facility in Utah, enabling increased output of DroneHunter interceptors and associated radar and command-and-control systems. Fortem’s counter-UAS technologies have logged tens of thousands of test flights and thousands of successful drone interceptions and are already deployed with military and security operators in multiple regions worldwide.
“This is a clear validation that DroneHunter is deployable today—not a prototype or pilot,” said Fortem CEO Jon Gruen. “JIATF-401’s decision reflects confidence in a system already operating globally where precision, safety, and controlled outcomes matter.”
Replicator 2 focuses on rapidly countering the growing threat posed by small, low-cost drones to military installations, critical infrastructure, and deployed personnel. JIATF-401 is a Pentagon program that evaluates and advancing systems that can be fielded without extended development timelines.
According to Gruen, being the first system selected under Replicator 2 establishes a clear path for broader adoption as mission requirements expand.
“The program is designed to move from an initial operational decision to scaled deployment without restarting the acquisition process,” he said. “Going first matters.”
DroneHunter is a reusable, autonomous interceptor that combines onboard AI, advanced radar, and Fortem’s command-and-control platform. Unlike kinetic or explosive counter-drone options, DroneHunter can neutralize hostile small UAS using a tethered net, allowing captured drones to be recovered intact for forensic analysis—an approach favored in environments where collateral damage must be minimized.
Fortem is privately held and headquartered in Lindon, Utah.
Learn more at fortemtech.com.
