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UAS UAV

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael tour multi-domain autonomous displays in the courtyard of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., July 16, 2025. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)

Pentagon seeks to surge its multi-domain drone arsenal

During an event in the Pentagon courtyard, DOD leaders shared new details about near-term plans to quickly and drastically enhance the military’s drone arsenal.
Sgt. Lucero Martinez, an unmanned aircraft systems operator, assigned to Detachment 1, Delta Company, 545th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, helps launch an unmanned aircraft system during a UAS exercise on June 12, 2025 at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma. The exercise, hosted by the 45th IBCT and featured numerous UAS and counter-UAS systems, focused on preparing infantry Soldiers to react to UAS threats. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Cambrie Cannon)

What Trump’s order on ‘unleashing American drone dominance’ means for the U.S. military 

DefenseScoop asked national security experts to weigh in on the directive.
A Crew Chief assigned to the 163d Attack Wing, March Air Reserve Base marshals MQ-9 Reaper on the Strategic Expeditionary Landing Field on Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, CA July 21, 2022. The 163d accelerated change by pioneering the first ever refueling of the MQ-9 Reaper using a Forward Area refueling Point provided by the VMM - 764’s V-22 Osprey. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pagan)
A Crew Chief assigned to the 163d Attack Wing, March Air Reserve Base marshals MQ-9 Reaper on the Strategic Expeditionary Landing Field on Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, CA July 21, 2022. The 163d accelerated change by pioneering the first ever refueling of the MQ-9 Reaper using a Forward Area refueling Point provided by the VMM – 764’s V-22 Osprey. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pagan)

DOD eyes tactical drones to accompany troops Trump is surging to the border

The acting defense chief unveiled the Pentagon’s immediate plans for the expedited implementation of the president's executive orders.
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 14: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies during his Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on January 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. Hegseth, an Army veteran and the former host of “FOX & Friends Weekend” on FOX News will be the first of the incoming Trump administration’s nominees to face questions from Senators. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Drones expected to remain a DOD priority under Trump, according to SecDef nominee Hegseth

Pete Hegseth made it clear that he plans to prioritize the military’s adoption and integration of drones if he's confirmed as SecDef.
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Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks boards the USS Constellation in Baltimore, Md. Sept. 20, 2024, for the naming ceremony of the future submarine USS Baltimore. Hicks accepted the offer of becoming the sub’s sponsor from Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro. (DoD photo by EJ Hersom)

DOD taps ‘integrated software enablers’ to help fully realize ambitious Replicator plans

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks shed new light on the initiative and capabilities it is accelerating.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall delivers a keynote at the AFA Warfare Symposium on March 7, 2023. (Photo by Brandi Vincent)

Air Force planning for 1,000 robotic wingmen

This figure was derived from assuming two CCAs each for 200 NGAD platforms and an additional two for each of 300 F-35s, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall…
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