U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Len Tidey (left) and Sgt. 1st Class Tom Rees execute a leaflet drop over Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on April 1, 2006. (DoD photo by Spc. Leslie Angulo, U.S. Army. (Released))
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te (C) inspects reservists operating a Hummer 2 Drone during a training session at Loung Te Industrial Parks Service Center, in Yilan County on December 2, 2025. (Photo by I-Hwa Cheng / AFP via Getty Images)
The conference version of the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act would require the Pentagon to try to set up a new joint program with Taiwanese officials.
In this photo illustration, the Signal Messenger logo is seen displayed on a smartphone screen. (Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones are positioned on the tarmac at a base in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) operating area, Nov. 23, 2025. The LUCAS platforms are part of a one-way attack drone squadron CENTCOM recently deployed to the Middle East to strengthen regional security and deterrence. (Courtesy Photo)
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth hosts a drone demonstration at the Pentagon, July 10, 2025. The event was hosted to portray the Secretary of Defense’s initiative of Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alondra Y. Lopez Gonzalez)
Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., attends a news conference to introduce members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus outside the U.S. Capitol on Friday, November 15, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman testifies during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, Washington D.C., May 20, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chad Trujillo)
A team of Department of Defense drone operators and experts test the technical capabilities of various Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) during a Defense Innovation Unit led prize challenge to identify platforms, components, and capabilities for Blue UAS, which clears and validates flying platforms are safe to fly, cyber-secure, and meet DOD requirements, at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, on Nov. 2-6, 2024. (DOD photo by Devon Bistarkey, Defense Innovation Unit)
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Mahan (DDG 72), left, and USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) sail in formation as an F/A-18 Super Hornet, assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight embarked aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), descends on final approach to land on the aircraft carrier, Nov. 13, 2025. (Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Triniti Lersch)