Hegseth Creates 1 Pentagon Drone Czar to Unify Most Unmanned Programs
Updated
Updated · Breaking Defense · Jul 1
Hegseth Creates 1 Pentagon Drone Czar to Unify Most Unmanned Programs
3 articles · Updated · Breaking Defense · Jul 1
Summary
A memo signed Monday creates a Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for autonomy, reporting to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg and acting as the Pentagon’s single joint integrator for unmanned and autonomous systems.
All Group 1-3 drones, all autonomous ground vehicles and nearly all unmanned surface vessels move under the new office, alongside autonomy, AI and swarming software; major airframes and the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel stay outside it.
JIATF 401 and the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group become deputy offices under the portfolio, and JIATF 401’s mission expands from counter-small drones to countering drone systems across all domains.
Hegseth said adversaries produce millions of unmanned systems each year while the United States has been slow to field them at scale, framing the reorganization as a way to cut bureaucracy and speed acquisition.
No manager or start date was named, leaving unclear how the new authority will affect service-level offices as the Pentagon broadens a DRPM model first used for Golden Dome in 2025.
With a $54 billion budget for a new drone office, will the US finally close the autonomy gap with its rivals?
As the Pentagon fast-tracks lethal AI, can it prevent autonomous systems from making catastrophic mistakes on the battlefield?
U.S. Launches DRPM-UxS to Field 300,000 Drones by 2026: Transforming Military Power and Industry for Drone Dominance
Overview
In response to adversaries like Iran, Russia, and Ukraine rapidly scaling drone production since 2022, the U.S. launched a major shift in unmanned warfare strategy. President Trump’s 2025 executive orders set the stage by directing the Department of War to procure and train with affordable, domestically made drones and to counter enemy unmanned threats. Building on this, Secretary Hegseth’s 2025 memorandum committed to strengthening the U.S. drone manufacturing base and equipping combat units with these systems. This unified approach aims to accelerate innovation, rebuild industrial capacity, and ensure the U.S. military stays ahead in the evolving drone landscape.