The U.S. Defense Department has announced sweeping changes to its military drone procurement and deployment practices as it seeks to gain a strategic edge over adversaries like Russia, Iran, and China.
A memo authored by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth instructs Pentagon officials to ramp up orders of low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles. For the first time, officers with the rank of colonel or captain will be able to independently procure and test drones, including 3D-printed vehicles and commercial off-the-shelf models. They will also have the freedom to integrate drones into every level of combat training without seeking approval from higherups.
