Pentagon Seeks Fast, Low-Cost Drone Production Boost
The War Department issued a request for information this week to determine whether American companies can rapidly manufacture more than 300,000 affordable drones. The effort supports Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plan to achieve the “drone dominance” outlined in President Trump’s executive order.
The June directive calls for major growth in U.S. drone capability and production, especially for inexpensive, lethal drones destined for combat units. Hegseth expanded on this vision in a July memo that focused on strengthening the drone industrial base, adopting new technologies, and modernizing training.
Hegseth said he has already cleared regulatory barriers and reassigned authorities to unit commanders to speed adoption of small drones.
Now the department is shifting to industrial expansion. Hegseth emphasized that the new strategy uses stable long-term procurement and flexible contracting to attract private companies and ignite drone manufacturing.
The new request outlines a $1 billion, two-year plan made up of four phases. The first phase begins in February 2026 and directs 12 companies to build 30,000 drones at $5,000 each. Later phases will shrink the vendor pool but increase production to 150,000 units while cutting costs to $2,300 per drone.
The program, funded by the Big Beautiful Bill, aims to deliver around 340,000 small drones by 2027. Hegseth expects expanded industrial capacity to allow the military to buy drones in large quantities through standard budgeting afterward.
He also highlighted the need for new doctrine to guide future warfare, stressing that modern conflict now relies heavily on inexpensive, disposable drones.
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