 "US Army to procure 1 million drones as warfare shifts toward unmanned systems")
The US Army plans to purchase at least one million drones over the next two to three years and may buy between half a million and several million drones annually thereafter, Reuters reported.
Speaking to Reuters, Army Secretary Driscoll outlined the service’s ambitious expansion of its drone procurement, acknowledging the challenge given the Army currently acquires roughly 50,000 drones a year.
“It is a big lift. But it is a lift we’re very capable of doing,” he said by phone while visiting Picatinny Arsenal, where he observed experiments with “net rounds” — systems designed to capture drones with nets — alongside new explosive and electromagnetic countermeasures integrated into weapon systems.
Much of that manufacturing is dominated by China today.
“We expect to purchase at least a million drones within the next two to three years,” Driscoll said.
“And we expect that at the end of one or two years from today, we will know that in a moment of conflict, we will be able to activate a supply chain that is robust enough and deep enough that we could activate to manufacture however many drones we would need."
Driscoll said he fundamentally wanted to change how the Army saw drones – more like expendable ammunition rather than an “exquisite” piece of equipment.
Future if warfare?
The Pentagon is trying to overcome a mixed track record on acquiring drones. In 2023, Pentagon leaders announced the Replicator initiative, a department-wide effort to acquire and field thousands of autonomous drones by August 2025.
However, it has not provided an update on the current status of the program.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIn July, US Défense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo in which he said he was “rescinding restrictive policies” that had impacted drone production.
With inputs from agencies
 "Six months after Op Sindoor’s hammering, Munir eyes to be Pakistan’s czar")
 "India developing swadeshi drones, seeks to end dependence on foreign weapons: Rajnath Singh")
 "China dramatically expanding missile production network amid growing US tensions: Report")
 "'To protect American jobs': US launches 175 probes into alleged H-1B visa abuses under ‘Project Firewall’ crackdown")
 "Six months after Op Sindoor’s hammering, Munir eyes to be Pakistan’s czar")
 "India developing swadeshi drones, seeks to end dependence on foreign weapons: Rajnath Singh")
 "China dramatically expanding missile production network amid growing US tensions: Report")
 "'To protect American jobs': US launches 175 probes into alleged H-1B visa abuses under ‘Project Firewall’ crackdown")
