The US Army starts its largest overhaul since the Cold War

Like a monotone professor, the US Army wants to keep droning on. The military branch is reportedly embarking on its largest overhaul since the end of the Cold War, with plans to heavily increase its use of drones across all combat divisions.

The move, which draws heavily on lessons from the war in Ukraine, is the product of over a year of experimentation at US military bases, according to a new Wall Street Journal report.

Entering the drone zone

The Army’s plan involves equipping each of its combat divisions with ~1,000 drones and simultaneously getting rid of outmoded weapons and other equipment.

If the strategy is enacted, the Army’s 10 active-duty divisions would heavily shift their tactics to emphasize unmanned aircraft, using them for surveillance, various attack strategies, and more.

• Upgrading to drones would cost ~$36 billion over five years.
• But, rather than increasing its budget, the Army instead plans to reduce spending on legacy programs like Humvees, M10 Booker light tanks, and some Apache helicopters.

Ukraine is a major inspiration. Analysts say the widespread use of drones has transformed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war in recent years, due to their cheap costs, ability to send live video feeds to the rear, and potential to attack in swarms and overwhelm defenses. To learn from Ukraine’s drone capabilities, US officers have reportedly debriefed the country’s military personnel and consulted with drone contractors that have been used.

But…The Army’s drone overhaul requires congressional support before it can be fully enacted.