CNAS Warns US Vulnerable to Chinese Drone Swarms

The Center for a New American Security released a report warning that United States forces risk being overwhelmed by massed Chinese drone swarms in a potential conflict over Taiwan. The think tank argues the Pentagon has failed to prioritize counter-drone technologies at scale, relying on expensive precision missiles to destroy cheap drones. While the U.S. plans to spend $7.4 billion on counter-drone technology in 2025, the report states these efforts lack urgency.

In contrast, the Government of China is mass-producing uncrewed systems and has ordered one million one-way attack drones for delivery by 2026. To counter this threat, Samuel Paparo, head of US Indo-Pacific Command, proposed using cheap drones to transform the Taiwan Strait into an unmanned hellscape.

Australia is also bolstering its defenses against China's military presence. The Australian government is investing 1.7 billion Australian dollars in Ghost Shark autonomous undersea vehicles and testing MQ-28 Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft to support manned fighter jets.