Biden, with outdated thinking, no military experience or training, and little commitment to strengthening the U.S., allowed the nation to fall behind in the military technology race. Under Trump, the Army is revitalizing, not only in cluster munitions but across the technological spectrum, with Secretary of Defense Hegseth leading a dramatic expansion of U.S. drone capabilities.
Drones are not the weapons of the future; they are here today. In Ukraine, drones have become the leading cause of battlefield casualties, and similar trends are emerging in Burma. Recognizing the urgency of expanding U.S. drone warfare capabilities, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated earlier this summer, “Drones are the biggest battlefield innovation in a generation, accounting for most of this year’s casualties in Ukraine. Our adversaries collectively produce millions of cheap drones each year.”
The Secretary noted that although the U.S. produces a significant number of drones, “the previous administration deployed red tape. U.S. units are not outfitted with the lethal small drones the modern battlefield requires.”
Secretary Hegseth outlined a three-part mission. First, strengthen the U.S. drone manufacturing base by approving hundreds of American-made products for military procurement, leveraging private investment to fuel the industry, and prioritizing a “Buy American” approach.
Second, achieve a technological leap by equipping combat units with an array of low-cost drones developed by top American engineers and AI experts. He stressed that drone dominance is as much about speed of production as it is about technological superiority, requiring a procurement model that directly links manufacturers with frontline units.
Finally, train forces to fight in drone-saturated battlefields, overcoming bureaucratic risk-aversion in budgeting, weaponization, and training. By next year, Hegseth expects these capabilities to be fully integrated into combat training, including force-on-force drone warfare exercises.
The Pentagon’s memorandum “Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance,” signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, marks the most significant overhaul of U.S. drone policy in decades, aiming to dismantle bureaucratic barriers and rapidly expand unmanned aerial system (UAS) capabilities across all branches. With attack drones now responsible for 70–80% of casualties in Ukraine and adversaries like Ukraine, Russia, and China producing millions annually.
China alone manufacturing about 100,000 small drones a month compared to the U.S.’s 5,000–6,000. Hegseth warned that the U.S. faces a dangerous production gap. He blamed the previous administration’s “red tape” for slowing development and preventing forces from acquiring the lethal small drones needed on modern battlefields. The policy builds on President Trump’s June 6, 2025, Executive Order 14307, which seeks to accelerate production, reform procurement, and make drones a core element of U.S. combat power.
The directive centers on three core mission areas. First, it will strengthen the U.S. drone manufacturing base by prioritizing “Buy American” policies, approving hundreds of domestic products for military purchase, and leveraging private capital to grow the emerging U.S. drone industry.
Second, it aims for a technological leap by equipping combat units with a wide range of inexpensive drones, tapping America’s top engineers and AI experts, and adopting procurement strategies that directly connect manufacturers with frontline troops, treating drone dominance as both a technological and process race.
Third, it seeks to transform training by simulating modern battlefield conditions, integrating force-on-force drone warfare into all combat training by 2026, and driving a cultural shift to overcome bureaucratic risk-aversion, with senior officers responsible for setting the pace of adoption.
A key innovation is reclassifying small drone, Groups 1 and 2 UAS under 55 pounds, as consumables, like ammunition, rather than durable property. This change allows rapid procurement and deployment, accepting that these drones will be expended in combat. Group 1 drones (up to 20 pounds, 1,200 feet altitude, 100 knots speed), such as the RQ-11 Raven and commercial quadcopters, will be fielded at the squad level for immediate tactical use.
Group 2 drones (21–55 pounds, 3,500 feet altitude, 250 knots speed), like the ScanEagle, offer greater capabilities but still benefit from the streamlined “consumable” classification. By bypassing traditional acquisition rules, such as lengthy airworthiness certifications, NATO interoperability standards, and complex maintenance protocols, the policy removes cost and time barriers that have historically slowed drone deployment.
The policy decentralizes authority by granting O-6 commanders, Colonels, and Navy Captains, the power to independently procure and test drones, shifting decision-making from the Pentagon to the front lines. This allows commanders to address urgent operational needs without enduring the delays of traditional acquisition cycles.
Troops are also authorized to modify drones for mission-specific requirements, adapting commercial off-the-shelf systems, 3D-printing components, and customizing platforms to suit changing battlefield conditions.
With 3D-printing approval, bases can manufacture drone frames and parts on demand using materials from the approved “Blue List,” enabling rapid prototyping and field testing without formal development contracts. Combined with streamlined procurement, frontline units can now request, adapt, and deploy drone modifications within 24 hours, compressing a process that once took months or years into a single day.
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