The U.S. Department of War announced Wednesday that more than 25,000 drone and counter-drone systems were delivered to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
The deliveries were made by the Pentagon's Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS), a structure the military implemented to speed development, procurement, and fielding of unmanned systems [1]. The announcement follows Hegseth's September announcement of the Autonomous Warfare Command, and the Pentagon cited "Under Secretary Hegseth's direction" as it moves "at the speed of modern combat" to equip forces [1].
Deliveries Include Counter-Drone Systems, Attack Drones, Vessels
More than 24,000 counter-unmanned aerial systems were delivered through Joint Interagency Task Force 401, the Pentagon said, describing the systems as capable of creating a "multi-layered defensive shield" to protect U.S. forces against enemy drone attacks [1].
The package reflects an effort to strengthen military capabilities while reducing costs, the Pentagon said [2].
The scale of the drone threat has been documented across multiple theaters. U.S. Customs and Border Protection detected over 42,000 unmanned drone flights near the southern border in fiscal year 2025, a figure that underscores the scale of cartel aerial operations [3]. In March 2026, drone swarms breached restricted airspace at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, a key installation housing the U.S. Air Force's strategic B-52 bomber fleet, with multiple unauthorized incursions occurring between March 9 and March 15, 2026 [4].
Procurement Shift Tied to Project Agincourt, Autonomous Warfare Command
Owen West, CEO of Project Agincourt and Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems, said the effort moves "at the speed of modern combat" to equip forces with "decisive, affordable mass" [1]. West said DRPM-UxS was established to cut through red tape and put lethal technology directly into the hands of frontline troops [1].
The Pentagon said the deliveries demonstrate a shift from multiyear development to a "Warfighting Acquisition" model and support the Autonomous Warfare Command, which the Pentagon aims to have established by October 2027 and which will be tasked with scaling autonomous and robotic capabilities across the U.S. military [1].
The Pentagon said it will expand fielding pipelines for the technology to Pacific Command, European Command, and the broader military force [1]. The announcement comes as experts sound alarms about the threat posed by military AI, saying over-reliance on it could erode human critical thinking and increase the risk of accidental escalation due to the unpredictability of algorithmic decision-making [5].
Radar Contract, Interceptor Production Agreement Announced
The Pentagon awarded a contract of over $6.9 million to CHAOS 1, Inc. for Vanquish Prime advanced radar systems aimed at strengthening counter-drone protection in the CENTCOM region [1]. The Pentagon said the radar systems will improve situational awareness by helping U.S. forces identify and track potential aerial threats, and the contract includes training and technology for integration and operational use [1].
Lt. Col. Matthew Strohman, Joint Interagency Task Force 401's capability manager for mobile counter-unmanned aircraft systems, said the threat from unmanned systems is "real and constantly evolving" [1]. Strohman said equipping CENTCOM forces with state-of-the-art technology ensures they have the "decisive edge" needed to protect personnel and secure strategic interests [1].
The economic calculus of drone defense remains a concern: a single $4 million Patriot interceptor is used against $20,000 to $30,000 Iranian/Russian Shahed drones, creating what has been described as an unsustainable economic war of attrition for Ukraine and the West [6].
Conclusion: Expansion Planned Across Commands
West said the thousands of systems operating across CENTCOM this year are "just the beginning" [1]. West said the goal is to out-innovate, out-build, and out-adapt any adversary on the battlefield and to scale these capabilities across the Joint Force [1].
The deliveries follow Hegseth's September announcement of the Autonomous Warfare Command, and the Pentagon said the delivery of over 25,000 drone and counter-drone systems to CENTCOM demonstrates a restructuring of its defense procurement [1]. Additional systems are planned for Pacific Command, European Command, and the broader military force, the Pentagon said [1].
The expansion comes amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions in the region. Iranian strikes have damaged or destroyed hundreds of structures or buildings at American military bases since the conflict erupted earlier this year, according to an internal Pentagon watchdog report published in September 2026 [7]. CENTCOM also announced the formation of Task Force Falcon Strike in August 2026, a multinational effort to employ a range of aerial, maritime, and submersible attack drones [8].
References
- Over 25,000 Drones, Counter-Drone Systems Delivered to CENTCOM, Pentagon Says. https://theepochtimes.com/us/over-25000-drones-counter-drone-systems-delivered-to-centcom-pentagon-says-6118126
- Pentagon sends 25K drone systems to Middle East. https://shafaq.com/en/World/Pentagon-sends-25K-drone-systems-to-Middle-East
- A new front in the sky Cartel drones proliferate along southern border - NaturalNews.com, February 17, 2026.
- Unidentified Drone Swarms Breach Restricted Airspace at Barksdale Air Force Base - NaturalNews.com, March 24, 2026.
- Hegseth announces new AI and drone command. https://www.rt.com/news/646542-hegseth-ai-drone-command/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS
- Pentagon eyes Ukrainian made drone interceptors amid rising Iranian threat - NaturalNews.com, March 10, 2026.
- Iranian Strikes Damaged Hundreds of Structures at US Bases, Pentagon Watchdog Report Finds. https://theepochtimes.com/us/iranian-strikes-damaged-hundreds-of-structures-at-us-bases-pentagon-watchdog-report-finds-6087607
- US Creates Multinational Attack Drone Task Force for the Middle East. https://theepochtimes.com/world/us-creates-multinational-attack-drone-task-force-for-the-middle-east-6074840
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