Army plans million-drone ramp-up by 2028
The U.S. Army will dramatically scale drone procurement from roughly 50,000 units per year to more than 1 million annually by 2028, Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said, as leaders acknowledge the U.S. is lagging in drone warfare learned from Ukraine. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered unmanned systems integrated into all combat training by next year, while a new SkyFoundry pilot aims to build cheaper drones by leveraging Army depots alongside industry.
📌 Key Facts
- Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll set a target to exceed 1 million drones per year by 2028, up from ~50,000 now.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed drones be included in all combat training in 2026, including force‑on‑force exercises.
- SkyFoundry pilot will use Army depots as manufacturing hubs to lower costs and scale production beyond traditional contractors.
📊 Relevant Data
China controls approximately 80 percent of the global drone market as of 2024.
Conflict, drones, rare earths drive China supply chain dependence fears — Reuters
In the Russia-Ukraine war, an estimated 10,000 drones are used per day by both sides.
The Impact of Drones on the Battlefield: Lessons of the Russia-Ukraine War from a French Perspective — Hudson Institute
Ukrainian drones were responsible for the deaths of 25,000 Russian troops in October 2025, the highest monthly loss for Russia since the invasion.
Ukrainian drones wiped out record 25000 Russian troops in October — Ukrainska Pravda
Russia has lost over 11,000 tanks in the Ukraine war as of November 2025, with many destroyed by Ukrainian drones.
Russian Military Losses in Ukraine War Updated November 2025 — Mezha.net
US military drones are significantly more expensive due to restrictions on using Chinese components for security reasons.
US drone dilemma: Why the most advanced military in the world is falling behind — CNN