NYT: Russia and China outpace US in drone production

Russia and China are ahead of the United States in the development of advanced unmanned aerial systems, according to The New York Times, citing sources in defence and intelligence agencies.

According to the report, Pentagon officials have concluded that Russia’s and China’s military drone programs are advancing faster than their US counterparts.

The findings regarding China’s progress were based on an analysis of a Chinese military parade in September 2025, where new drone systems were showcased. Following this, US authorities urged defence contractors to accelerate development efforts.

The report also noted that Anduril, a defence technology start-up in California, began production of autonomous drones in February 2026 ahead of schedule, while the Pentagon has requested more than $13 billion to develop autonomous systems.

By Jeyhun Aghazada