Pentagon begins selections for $1 billion ‘Drone Dominance’ program
The Pentagon has started selecting U.S. defense manufacturers for the military’s $1 billion Drone Dominance Initiative.
Drones Unleashed
The Department of Defense, seeing the tactics of warfare being redefined in Russia's war against Ukraine, understands the U.S. must evolve, strengthen and advance the American drone industrial base to keep up with the changing threats. The Threat Status team takes a deeper look at what the defense industry is doing to meet the demand to keep our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines equipped with the latest technology.
SpaceX’s Starlink working with Ukraine to counteract Russian drones using satellite system
SpaceX’s Starlink is working with Ukraine’s armed forces to counteract Russian drones using the satellite internet system to strike targets deep inside Ukrainian territory, a military-focused think tank says.
Drone Dominance Initiative to close submissions Friday
The Drone Dominance Initiative, a $1 billion plan to have small, expendable drones built domestically, will close its first request for solutions Friday afternoon, as companies compete for a shot at long-term defense contracts and a chance to be part of an order for 30,000 of the devices the Pentagon is expected to place next month.
U.S. scrambles to close ‘deep chasm’ in drone warfare after Ukraine lessons
U.S. military spending on small drones has quadrupled since the war in Ukraine has shown how devastating the remote systems can be.
Russia puts death toll from Ukrainian strike on occupied village at 27; Kyiv rejects accusation
Russian authorities said Friday that the death toll from a Ukrainian drone strike they said struck a cafe in a Russian-occupied village in Ukraine’s Kherson region rose to 27 people. Kyiv denied attacking civilian targets.
Russia’s footage shows drone allegedly used in attack on Putin’s residence
Russia released a video Wednesday showcasing a downed drone that authorities said was used in an attack on the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin over the weekend.
CIA behind U.S. drone strike on Venezuelan dock allegedly used for drug smuggling: Reports
The CIA was responsible for a U.S.-led drone strike last week on a Venezuelan dock that President Trump said was involved in drug trafficking, according to media reports.
Russian drones blast Ukraine’s Odesa and injure 6, including children
Russian drones blasted apartment buildings and the power grid in the southern Ukraine city of Odesa in an overnight attack that injured six people, including a toddler and two other children, officials said Wednesday.
Trump sanctions Iranian, Venezuelan companies over combat drone sales
The Trump administration sanctioned 10 companies and individuals based in Venezuela and Iran on Tuesday over both nations’ aggressive trade of ballistic missile and drone technology, as part of its campaign to exert maximum pressure on the countries.
Japan’s Cabinet approves record defense budget, bets on drones for coastal defense
Japan’s Cabinet on Friday signed off on the largest defense budget in the country’s history, with a drone-based coastal defense system and an arsenal of long-range strike munitions front and center.
Navy deploys kamikaze drones to the Middle East
The Navy launched its first one-way attack drone from the deck of a warship operating in the Middle East this week, marking what military officials said was a “significant milestone” in its ability to deliver a full range of unmanned combat power.
U.S. announces massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion
The Trump administration has announced a massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion that includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones, drawing an angry response from China.
WATCH: Inside the advance of counter-drone systems with Jon Rambeau from L3Harris Technologies
Jon Rambeau, president of the Integrated Mission Systems segment at L3Harris Technologies, speaks with National Security Editor Guy Taylor at the 2025 Reagan National Defense Forum about the global proliferation of cheaper, faster, and more deadly drones — and the U.S. defense industry’s push to develop more effective counter-drone systems for American military forces and their allies.
Defense contractor General Dynamics developing drone launcher for M1 Abrams tank
General Dynamics Land Systems wants to turn its M1 Abrams main battle tank into a rolling launcher of kamikaze drones.
Unidentified drones spotted three times above French intelligence base, authorities say
Unidentified drones were spotted above a French military intelligence base three times late last month, French authorities reported Tuesday.
Space combat moves from science fiction to threat as China, Russia outpace U.S.
It’s gone from science fiction to a matter of serious military planning in a remarkably short time.
As sea drones force Russia to retreat, Ukraine examines ways to launch more complex attacks
The commander of sea-drone operations for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency says more complex strikes against Russian forces are expected next year, after Kyiv’s uncrewed fleet succeeded in curbing the movements of Russia’s once-dominant Black Sea navy.
Trump strikes echo Obama’s lethal legacy; drug boat war renews partisan split on counterterrorism
President Trump may be the alleged drug boat destroyer, but he has a long way to go before he tops the drone warrior.
Indo-Pacific Command admiral set to wage AI-powered warfare
Information warfare, drone strikes and advanced weapons are becoming more lethal through artificial intelligence and will provide key advantages in a future war with China or other adversaries, the commander of the Indo-Pacific Command said Saturday.
Pentagon launches task force to produce drone squadron in Mideast
U.S. Central Command on Wednesday announced the formation of a task force to set up the military’s first one-way attack drone squadron in the Middle East.
WATCH: Germany launches new federal police’s drone defense unit
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt on Tuesday inaugurated the country’s new federal police drone defense unit, which can be deployed across the country and “is equipped with the latest technology for smart drone defense.”
Feds clam up a year after New Jersey drone sightings
Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s — well, it’s been a year since the drone sightings over New Jersey and we still don’t quite know what it was all about.
Global demand, depleted U.S. stockpiles have American firms cranking up rocket, missile production
Global demand for arms in an increasingly fractious world and an alarmingly depleted U.S. stockpile of long-range weapons are driving a dramatic surge in the American defense industry’s production of rockets and missiles.
How Russian drones targeting civilians are turning one Ukrainian city into a ‘human safari’
When Olena Horlova leaves home or drives through town outside the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, she fears that she’s a target. She believes that Russian drones could be waiting on a rooftop, along the road or aiming for her car.
Surge of mystery drone incursions targets Europe’s military nerve centers
A pattern has become disturbingly familiar across Europe over the past few months: a surge of mysterious drone activity over NATO territory.
Pentagon says Biden-era Replicator drone program now under new special unit
The secretive “Replicator” drone program, established by the Biden administration within the Defense Department’s leading tech-industry collaboration unit to accelerate the acquisition and deployment of unmanned systems to U.S. warfighters, has a new home under the U.S. Special Operations Command.
Pompeo becomes adviser to scrutinized Ukraine defense company that’s looking to boost missiles
Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has joined the advisory board of Ukraine’s leading defense company, renowned for its long-range drones capable of striking targets deep inside Russia, as a corruption investigation continues.
Behind Replicator’s drone delays: A blueprint to fix Pentagon buying
The Pentagon’s secretive Replicator program isn’t about drones, at least not entirely. If it was, it’s fallen short of its goal.
This anti-drone technology is used on the Ukrainian battlefield and in NATO airspace after flyovers
In a warehouse more than 900 miles from Ukraine’s capital, workers in northern Denmark painstakingly piece together anti-drone devices. Some of the devices will be exported to Kyiv in the hopes of jamming Russian technology on the battlefield, while others will be shipped across Europe in efforts to combat mysterious drone intrusions into NATO’s airspace that have the entire continent on edge.
Procurer of innovative combat tech for Ukraine sees increasing battlefield limitations
Ukrainian forces have made global headlines since 2022 by turning commercial products such as off-the-shelf consumer drones into weaponry and battlefield equipment to gain an edge over the conventional military hardware of Russian invaders.
Ukraine’s AI revolution: The future of war is here
This is Guillaume Ptak. And today we are taking a look at how AI is revolutionizing the modern battlefield, both in Ukraine and in future wars.
Drone sightings disrupt flights at Belgium’s main international airport
Flights at Belgium’s main international airport remained disrupted on Wednesday after drone sightings overnight forced it to close temporarily, and Prime Minister Bart De Wever called a meeting with senior ministers to discuss safety concerns.
Ukraine’s digital battlefield: AI and drones rewrite the rules of war
More than three years into Russia’s brutal invasion of its neighbor, the war raging on Ukraine’s eastern plains is increasingly being fought by machines.
Putin says Russia’s nuclear-armed underwater drone was tested successfully
Russia has conducted a successful test of a new atomic-powered and nuclear-capable underwater drone, President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday, declaring that the new weapon can’t be intercepted.
Drones Unleashed: Taking a deeper look at the defense industry technology and drone programs
The Threat Status team takes a deeper look at what the defense industry is doing to meet the demand to keep our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines equipped with the latest technology.
U.N. forces in Lebanon shoot down IDF drone in border area; Israel says drone was on routine mission
Israel accused U.N. peacekeeping troops in Lebanon of shooting down on Sunday one of its drones that was conducting “routine intelligence gathering” near the border town of Kfar Kila.
Specialized munitions, firearms emerge as ‘last-resort’ drone defenses
ILSAN, South Korea — A dramatic, viral clip of a “near-death” moment has become one of the most chilling pieces of footage to emerge from the Ukraine War.
Ukrainian defense firms on the fast-evolving global drone arms race: ‘Time to market is zero’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, pushing relentlessly for a macho, muscular military, might be nonplussed to hear that some of Ukraine’s deadliest warriors don’t sport the Spartan physiques of elite commandos.
Ukraine unveils upgraded sea drone it says can strike anywhere in the Black Sea
Ukraine’s state security service has unveiled an upgraded sea drone it says can now operate anywhere in the Black Sea, carry heavier weapons and use artificial intelligence for targeting.
New communications tech the linchpin for modern warfighters, Army secretary says
Current communication systems relied upon by U.S. war fighters are too “old” and “outdated,” according to Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll, who says a concerted push is underway to accelerate private industry’s delivery of advanced technology and the Army’s acquisition process.
Army develops drones that can be printed in-house, assembled on the battlefield
Drones have revolutionized the battlefield, offering combatants like Ukraine a cost-effective platform to conduct surveillance operations or swarm an enemy position with reduced human risk.
WATCH: AUSA 2025 setting the tone for the future of Army tech
The Threat Status team from The Washington Times goes behind the scenes of AUSA 2025, exploring the themes and the tone being set for tech advancements in the U.S. military.
Partnership of U.S.-Israeli companies offers new self-destructing drone capability for soldiers
New self-destructing drones, developed by U.S. and Israeli military contractors, will soon be in the hands of Army soldiers.
Army Secretary Driscoll lays out vision for the future at AUSA conference
Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll slammed the defense acquisition system on Monday, saying it prioritizes the desires of government bureaucrats and defense lobbyists over the needs of the American soldier.
