Army Drops Legacy Weapons In $36b Push For Drone Warfare: Report

In a awesome subject shift, nan U.S. Army plans to overhaul each active-duty section by adding astir 1,000 drones to each one. That’s according to a Wall Street Journal study detailing a $36 cardinal translator scheme driven by lessons learned from nan war successful Ukraine.

Known arsenic nan Army Transformation Initiative, nan scheme intends to heighten surveillance, logistics, and onslaught capabilities by utilizing low-cost drones. Instead of expanding its budget, nan Army plans to redirect $36 cardinal complete 5 years by cutting bequest programs, specified arsenic Humvee procurement, nan M10 Booker ray vessel and immoderate Apache helicopters. These cuts, focused connected counterinsurgency-era systems, will thief money caller unmanned systems and physics warfare upgrades, pending legislature approval.

Drone strategies shaped by Ukraine

Army officials consulted pinch Ukrainian forces and contractors to study drone usage successful combat against Russia. According to nan Journal, nan Army views drones arsenic cardinal to early onshore warfare, citing their usage for persistent surveillance, precision attacks and overwhelming accepted defenses done swarming tactics.

In February 2024, nan Army’s 10th Mountain Division conducted exercises successful Hohenfels, Germany, testing drone operations successful acold upwind conditions. Soldiers encountered artillery failures and rotor issues that were not antecedently observed successful drills conducted successful warmer climates, specified arsenic Hawaii and Louisiana.

Expanding unmanned and physics capabilities

In summation to deploying drones for reconnaissance and proviso delivery, nan Army plans to put successful counter-drone systems and physics warfare tools. A March Department of Defense arena successful Germany showcased associated U.S.-German demonstrations aimed astatine countering drone threats pinch electromagnetic jamming and neutralization systems.

A cardinal obstacle is avoiding nan usage of Chinese components successful drone production. While Ukraine produced much than 2 cardinal drones successful 2024 utilizing commercialized parts, galore relied connected suppliers not compatible pinch U.S. subject standards.

Branches taking different strategies

The Journal notes that while nan Army plans to support a operation of accepted and modern capabilities, specified arsenic long-range missiles, tanks, and tilt-rotor aircraft, nan Marine Corps has taken a different approach. The Marines eliminated their vessel fleet successful favour of mobile rocket teams designed for Pacific operations.

Implementation underway

Army officials said 3 brigades — each typically consisting of 3,000 to 5,000 troops — person already received caller drone systems. The remaining 30 brigades are expected to beryllium equipped wrong 2 years.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll precocious briefed Vice President JD Vance connected nan initiative. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has endorsed nan plan, which nan Army says is focused connected utilizing existent costs much efficaciously alternatively than expanding wide spending.