The Defense Department has announced plans to ramp up drone production in partnership with industry, showcasing 18 US-made prototypes built for rapid fielding.
Primarily built from commercial, off-the-shelf components, the systems transitioned from concept to prototype in an average of 18 months, compared to the usual six-year timeline.
Undersecretary of Defense Emil Michael said development and production will keep accelerating, with a focus on delivering faster, cheaper, and more capable drones.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called drones “the most significant battlefield innovation in a generation.”
He added that small, lethal drones have caused high casualties in Ukraine, and adversaries are producing them at scale while US drone output remains limited.
Hegseth also outlined a three-part strategy to close the drone gap.
First, the Pentagon will prioritize procurement of US-made drones and components, leaning on private capital to scale production.
Additionally, it plans to arm frontline units with cheap, lethal drones developed by American engineers and artificial intelligence experts.
Moreover, training will shift toward realistic combat scenarios, driven by leadership willing to take calculated risks.
DIU Initiatives
As part of a broader push to expand the military’s drone capabilities, the announcement follows a series of recent moves by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to fast-track drone development and integration.
Earlier this month, the DIU added the VXE30 Stalker uncrewed aerial system (UAS), developed by Edge Autonomy, a subsidiary of Redwire, to its Blue UAS list, which includes drones vetted for compliance with US government standards.
Designed for advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, the Stalker joins a growing lineup of approved systems.
In June, Teledyne FLIR Defense’s Black Hornet 4 was also approved for the Blue UAS list after passing cybersecurity checks required by the National Defense Authorization Act and meeting DIU’s technical standards.
