It comes as the DoD seeks to keep pace with the scale of US adversaries’ drone production, focusing on increased lethality. 

The US plans on completely overhauling and accelerating drone production in an attempt to “technologically leapfrog” its adversaries, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth declared on 10 July.  

“Today, I am rescinding restrictive policies that stifle [US drone] production”, Hegseth proclaimed. 

Hegseth’s announcement was featured in a video published on X, where he said, “while our adversaries have produced millions of cheap drones before us, we were mired in red tape…not anymore”.  

In the video, Hegseth signed a memorandum to senior Pentagon leadership, military leaders, and directors of defence agencies, directing them to pursue three goals seen as essential to reforming drone production. The first looks to bolster the US drone manufacturing base, stating a preference for domestically-made products, leveraging private capital, and approving hundreds of products for use. 

Specifically, the memorandum says that US forces lack lethal small drones, noting that “lethality will not be hindered by self-imposed restrictions”.  

Next, the Department of Defense (DoD) will work to overtake adversaries on drone technology, by collaborating with AI providers while enacting a new procurement strategy that brings innovators closer to warfighters. 

It is unclear how such a strategy would work in practice; however, one might expect more contact between the military and technology companies, especially when it comes to product testing. 

Expressing his third aim, Hegseth highlights the need to train US forces in line with modern battlefield advances, noting developments in the technology seen on the frontlines in Ukraine.  

He stated that “senior officers must overcome the bureaucracy's instinctive risk-aversion”, calling for “force-on-force drone wars”. 

The memorandum states its intent is to exceed the actions mandated by an executive order called “unleashing American drone dominance”, which was signed by US President Donald Trump on 6 June.  

The order calls for the strengthening of the US drone industrial base, with cross-government collaboration to provide loans, investment, insurance, market access, and assistance to US-based drone manufacturers, similar to Hegseth’s memorandum. 

DSEI Gateway News is part of DSEI UK and the broader Clarion Defence portfolio. 
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