❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Army announced plans to purchase at least one million drones within the next two to three years, with an emphasis on increasing domestic production capabilities.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, Major General John Reim, and other military officials, alongside drone manufacturers and lawmakers.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made during a visit to Picatinny Arsenal, with plans to implement over the next two to three years.
💬KEY QUOTE: “We expect to purchase at least a million drones within the next two to three years.” – Daniel Driscoll
🎯IMPACT: The initiative aims to strengthen U.S. military readiness, reduce reliance on foreign manufacturers, and modernize the Army’s approach to drone warfare.
The U.S. Army has announced an ambitious plan to purchase at least one million drones within the next two to three years, marking a dramatic expansion of its unmanned systems program. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll confirmed the initiative during a visit to Picatinny Arsenal, highlighting the service’s efforts to modernize drone warfare and strengthen domestic production. “We expect to purchase at least a million drones within the next two to three years,” Driscoll said.
He emphasized that the Army aims to reduce its dependence on foreign manufacturers, particularly China, which currently dominates the global drone market. Driscoll said the military must view drones not as expensive assets but as expendable tools comparable to ammunition—cheap, replaceable, and used in large quantities.
The plan follows the Pentagon’s broader push to increase its drone capabilities. In 2023, the Department of Defense, now the Department of War, launched the Replicator initiative, designed to deploy thousands of autonomous drones by 2025. Although updates on that effort have been limited, U.S. lawmakers have since proposed building a massive drone production facility in Texas that could produce up to one million units annually.
Rather than rely solely on major defense contractors, Driscoll said the Army will prioritize partnerships with smaller, commercially oriented drone makers. “We want to partner with other drone manufacturers who are using them for Amazon deliveries and all the different use cases,” he explained. The approach is intended to expand innovation while diversifying the industrial base for military drone production.
The move also reflects lessons learned from recent conflicts. Drones have proven decisive in the Russia-Ukraine war, where both sides now produce millions of low-cost systems each year. Notably, Ukraine previously turned to purchasing Chinese-made drones after struggling with reliability issues in American models.
Meanwhile, Poland recently shot down a large number of alleged Russian drones that violated its airspace, demonstrating how cheap unmanned aircraft are reshaping modern warfare.
Drone proliferation has also become a concern at home. Reports indicate that Mexican cartels are operating thousands of drones along the U.S. southern border for smuggling and surveillance, highlighting the growing domestic security implications of low-cost aerial technology.
Driscoll said the Army’s push is designed to ensure the United States can compete with adversaries already producing drones on a massive scale. “Drones are the future of warfare, and we’ve got to invest in both the offensive and defense capabilities against them,” he said.
Image by Matt Christenson/BLM/2017.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
.jpg){kind=link}
