Defense Autonomous Warfare Group

The US Department of Defense has established the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS) to consolidate oversight of most military drone programs. The office aims to accelerate drone technology development and procurement, excluding exceptions like the Air Force's CCA program. It will manage systems including drones, boats, ground robots, and counter-drone technologies.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth established the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS) to consolidate Pentagon drone and autonomous systems programs under a single office reporting to Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg. The office oversees development, acquisition, and deployment of unmanned systems across all domains, excluding major defense acquisition programs, and inherits a $53.6 billion budget for autonomous drone platforms.

The Pentagon is requesting a massive $55 billion for drone and autonomous warfare programs in FY2027, a sharp increase from $225 million in FY2026, driven by the growing threat of cheap, AI-enabled drones overwhelming U.S. defenses in conflicts like Ukraine and the Middle East. The shift reflects a strategic pivot toward large-scale, coordinated drone swarms to counter and deploy low-cost systems.

The Pentagon is requesting a $55 billion budget for drone and autonomous warfare programs in FY2027, a significant increase from $225 million in FY2026, driven by the need to counter cheap drone swarms overwhelming U.S. defenses in conflicts like those in the Middle East and Ukraine. The shift reflects a strategic move toward large numbers of lower-cost, AI-enabled systems.

The Pentagon is requesting a $54 billion budget for the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group in 2027, a 24,000% increase from last year, to advance AI-powered autonomous drone warfare programs. Experts warn the military may be unprepared for the associated risks.