U.S. Army to Purchase One Million Drones by 2027

U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll announced plans to purchase at least one million drones over the next two to three years, marking a massive increase from the current acquisition rate of 50,000 units per year. The initiative aims for the Army to achieve drone domain dominance by 2027, shifting the strategic approach to treat drones as expendable ammunition rather than expensive, unique equipment. This shift draws directly from lessons learned regarding the scale of drone deployment in the Russia-Ukraine war.

To support this ramp-up, the Army is launching SkyFoundry, a public-private partnership pilot program designed to stimulate domestic production of critical components, including brushless motors, sensors, and batteries, to reduce dependence on supply chains in China and Southeast Asia. Driscoll rejected the idea of a single production facility in Texas, opting instead to partner with a diverse array of manufacturers. Following the initial surge, the Army may acquire between 500,000 and several million drones annually.

The procurement overhaul is supported by several government actions: a June executive order from President Donald Trump, a July memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rescinding restrictive production policies, and the Pentagon's Replicator initiative. The effort is further managed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and supported by the SkyFoundry Act, introduced by Congressman Pat Harrigan on September 4 to ensure U.S. troops are not outproduced by adversaries.