U.S. Army plans $36 billion drone overhaul by 2026

The U.S. Army is undergoing its most significant transformation since the Cold War, planning to equip each of its 10 active-duty divisions with around 1,000 drones by the end of 2026. This initiative is driven by lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, where mass deployment of inexpensive, versatile drones has revolutionized battlefield tactics and demonstrated the effectiveness of unmanned systems in surveillance, logistics, and attacks. The Army’s new approach moves away from costly, slow-to-procure crewed equipment, such as Humvees and Apache helicopters, toward more agile, adaptable, and budget-friendly unmanned technologies. Field exercises and direct consultations with Ukrainian military personnel have informed the strategy, emphasizing rapid scaling, integration of AI, and 3D printing for on-demand drone production. The overhaul also includes ramping up counter-drone defenses and restructuring attack helicopter formations to work alongside drone swarms. The Army expects this shift to increase flexibility, responsiveness, and deterrence capabilities in future conflicts.