25 July 2025

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently toured an exhibition of 18 U.S. drone prototypes at the Pentagon.

Showcased were drones produced rapidly—an average of 18 months from idea to working model—using readily available, off-the-shelf components.

Both President Trump and Hegseth are advocates of speeding up combat drone production, supporting innovation, and reducing regulatory impediments.

"Drones are the biggest battlefield innovation in a generation," said Hegseth, "and they have accounted for most of this year's casualties in Ukraine. Our adversaries collectively produce millions of cheap drones each year, and the U.S. military is lacking needed quantities of lethal small drones." 

To achieve those "needed quantities," Hegseth announced three goals:

• Prioritizing the purchase of American-made drones and parts with help from industry's private capital.
• Arming combat units with low-cost drones made by America's world-leading engineers and artificial intelligence experts.
• Training with drones in realistic battlefield scenarios, led by leaders who are not risk averse. 

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