The Pentagon is focusing on commercial drones. Americans want to catch up with Russia and China
These plans are the result of analyzes of the conflict in Ukraine, where cheap drones play a key role, acting as ammunition instead of technologically advanced equipment. Driscoll emphasized that the experience from this war influenced the Pentagon's strategy, which wants to create a system that allows for a quick increase in drone production if necessary.
Read also: Germany on shooting down drones. The issue of civilians is crucial
The US wants to catch up with Russia and China in drones
In an interview with Reuters, Driscoll noted that the US intends to build a solid supply chain that will enable the production of any number of drones in the event of a conflict. He also pointed to differences in the scale of production between countries – Ukraine and Russia produce about 4 million drones a year, while China produces more than twice as many. By comparison, the United States lags far behind with around 50,000. annually.
Read also: The UK is investing in underwater drones. Response to the Russian threat
The Pentagon has reported drone initiatives before
Plans to increase drone production are nothing new. Previously, under President Joe Biden, the Pentagon announced initiatives in this area, such as the Replicator program, which aimed to produce large numbers of small drones operating in a swarm formation. Despite signing the first contracts last year, the project encountered difficulties related to costs and the process of acquiring equipment.
Driscoll drew attention to the new strategy of cooperation with drone manufacturers. Instead of using only the services of large defense corporations, the Pentagon plans to establish partnerships with companies producing commercial drones that are used in deliveries, e.g. for Amazon. “We are keen to cooperate with manufacturers of drones used in various commercial applications,” he explained.
