Hegseth stands up a new drone office with authority on everything from one-way attack drones to ground robots and boats
The new office will have major power over the future of drones in the US military. US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mary Torres Most of the US military's drone programs will now be overseen by a new office. The goal of the office is to accelerate the development of drone technology, Hegseth said. There are some notable exceptions, including the US Air Force's CCA program. Nearly all of the Pentagon's drone programs will now exist under one office, giving its officials major power over the future of uncrewed systems in the US military. The consolidation will accelerate the procurement and fielding of drones , US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in a memo, a major priority of the second Trump administration as it seeks to prepare forces for drone warfare. Per a memo from earlier this week, the new office, called the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems, will be "the single joint integrator for all unmanned and autonomous system programs " acros...