Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle shakes hands with Rear Adm. Melvin Smith, commander of Submarine Group Two (COMSUBGRU 2), at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Robotic and Autonomous Systems Warfighting Development Center on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Norfolk, Virginia, Sept. 24, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Bellino)
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Wirth, a joint fire support specialist, and 1st Lt. Aaron Anderson, a fire support officer, both with 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment (2-32 FAR), 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) in support of Operation Ardent Vanguard, discuss the observation post during a patrolling operation, near Yuma, Arizona, Aug. 21, 2026. (Dept. of Defense photo by Sgt. Nathan Hislop)
A team of Air Transportation Specialists assigned to the 101st Air Refueling Wing in Bangor, Maine, unloads cargo from a KC-135 Stratotanker, June 3, 2026. The team, reinforced by augmentees from multiple units, have efficiently processed critical MICAPs, morale pallets, and essential supplies bound for U.S. Central Command. (DOD Photo by Andrew Sinclair, DVIDS)
Sunset in the Atlantic from USNS Pathfinder (T-AGS 60) a Military Sealift Command oceanographic survey ship during a scheduled underway with Sailors from U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command and staff from Naval Oceanographic Office on board. (US Navy photo by LT Bobby Dixon / Released)
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)
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)
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)
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. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Cambrie Cannon)
A Boeing unmanned MQ-25 aircraft is given operating directions on the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Hillary Becke)
