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Half the drones in a recent US Army combat exercise were designed to be expendable like ammo
Yahoo News Canada • • world
Key Points:
- The US Army used about 2,000 attack drones in a recent Saber Junction exercise, with roughly half designed to be expendable and treated like ammunition to achieve battlefield effects.
- The Army's Drone Dominance Program aims to supply tens of thousands of low-cost, consumable drones to soldiers, enabling them to use these systems without concern for rapid depletion.
- The use of numerous drones in combat scenarios, including those informed by the war in Ukraine, enhances soldiers' ability to survive, sense threats, and strike faster, even against electronic warfare and counter-drone measures.
- The Pentagon is investing $1 billion to purchase at least 200,000 drones by 2027, emphasizing that small drones should be cheap, rapidly replaceable, and consumable like munitions.
- Soldiers are also building and 3D printing drones and parts to customize and quickly replenish their drone capabilities, significantly increasing combat power when units have access to large numbers of drones daily.
