Business · Ars Technica
Pentagon wants $54B for drones, more than most nations’ military budgets
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The US military’s massive $1.5 trillion budget request for the next fiscal year includes what Pentagon officials described as the largest investment in drone warfare and counter-drone technology in US history.
Key facts
- Another $20.6 billion would help purchase one-way attack drones and drone aircraft developed through the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, which is building drone prototypes
- The US military already has a long history of developing and deploying drones during its Global War on Terrorism campaign, including MQ-1B Predator and MQ-9 Reaper drones that have performed
- The US military’s massive $1.5 trillion budget request for the next fiscal year includes what Pentagon officials described as the largest investment in drone warfare and counter-drone technology
- Specifically, the Pentagon is requesting $53.6 billion to boost US production and procurement of drones, train drone operators, build out a logistics network for sustaining drone deployments
Summary
The proposed spending on drone and autonomous warfare technologies within the FY2027 budget proposal for the US Department of Defense would surpass most countries’ defense budgets and rank among the top 10 in the world for military spending, ahead of countries such as Ukraine, South Korea, and Israel. Specifically, the Pentagon is requesting $53.6 billion to boost US production and procurement of drones, train drone operators, build out a logistics network for sustaining drone deployments, and expand counter-drone systems to defend more US military sites.
Another $20.6 billion would help purchase one-way attack drones and drone aircraft developed through the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, which is building drone prototypes capable of teaming up with human-piloted fighter jets.