US army to significantly expand drone supply in major overhaul

The U.S. Army is launching its largest overhaul since the Cold War, aiming to equip each of its 10 combat divisions with around 1,000 drones and phase out outdated weapons and equipment.

This ambitious plan, which could cost $36 billion over the next five years, is heavily influenced by lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, where drones have transformed the battlefield, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

“We’ve got to learn how to use drones, how to fight with them, how to scale them, produce them, and employ them in our fights so we can see beyond line of sight,” said Col. Donald Neal, the commander of the U.S. 2nd Cavalry Regiment. “We’ve always had drones since I’ve been in the Army, but it has been very few.”

The Army's shift to unmanned aircraft will focus on surveillance, supply movement, and attack missions. The plan also includes acquiring new technologies to better link soldiers on the battlefield, such as cellphones and tablets, and improving electronic warfare capabilities. The Army is also developing systems to counter enemy drones and will invest $3 billion in these efforts.

The transformation will be funded by cutting obsolete systems, such as the Humvee, the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, and some older Apache helicopters. In addition, civilian personnel reductions will contribute to savings. Three brigades have already been outfitted with new unmanned systems, with plans to integrate them into the rest of the active-duty force within two years.

This overhaul, called the "Army Transformation Initiative," is intended to strengthen the Army’s ability to deter threats from Russia and China. It comes at a time when the Pentagon, under guidance from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, is focusing on more efficient spending.

The Army's push to adopt drone technology follows the successful use of unmanned aircraft in Ukraine, where drones have proven effective for surveillance and swarming attacks. Military analysts say drones have changed modern land warfare, making it easier to target enemy positions from a distance.

The Army's transformation also includes investments in long-range missiles, tanks, and tilt-rotor aircraft, ensuring a balanced modernisation effort. However, U.S. manufacturers will need to ramp up production to meet the demand for drones, as the military faces restrictions on using foreign-made components.

By Sabina Mammadli