On Wednesday, the United States Department of Defense announced that it has delivered over 25,000 drones and anti-drone systems to the Central Command this year, marking a significant increase in delivery quantities. The Pentagon is accelerating the development, procurement, and frontline deployment of drone technologies with the goal of enhancing its defense capabilities against UAV attacks.
As part of an investment program valued at approximately $782 million, these drones and anti-drone systems have been delivered under the supervision of the Department of Defense’s Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager.
Prior to the expedited delivery of this equipment, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had called for the Pentagon to remove “unnecessary obstacles” that were causing delays and to speed up the deployment of these defense capabilities.
The list of delivered items released on Wednesday included more than 24,000 anti-drone systems, over 1,300 single-use attack drones, more than 100 unmanned surface vessels, and unmanned underwater vehicles.
The Pentagon stated that through the Joint Interagency Task Force 401, these systems can create a “multi-layered defense shield” that helps the U.S. military repel enemy drone attacks.
On the same day, Owen West, the CEO of Project Agincourt and the Direct Reporting Project Manager for Unmanned Systems, issued a statement saying, “Under Secretary Hegseth’s directive, we are acting at a pace that matches the demands of modern warfare, equipping our forces with decisive, affordable capabilities at scale.”
On September 30, Secretary Hegseth announced the launch of the Agincourt Project, which includes the establishment of a four-star Autonomous Warfare Command by October 1, 2027. This initiative aims to build upon the missions of the Direct Reporting Project Manager for Unmanned Systems while creating new procurement models that allow companies producing autonomous systems and robotic technologies to directly interface with frontline combat units.
The Pentagon also indicated that plans to expand the deployment of unmanned technologies would not be confined to just the Central Command but would also extend to the Indo-Pacific Command, European Command, and broader military operations.
“The thousands of systems operating within the Central Command this year are just the beginning,” West stated, emphasizing the aim of outpacing any adversary through enhanced innovation, construction capabilities, and adaptability on the battlefield. “Our goal is to extend these capabilities across all aspects of the joint forces.”
Additionally, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday that it has awarded a contract worth over $6.9 million to American defense tech startup CHAOS 1, Inc. This contract is meant for procuring the Vanquish Prime advanced radar systems, which are designed to bolster the anti-drone protective measures for U.S. military critical assets within the Middle Eastern Command area.
According to the Pentagon, these advanced radar systems will help U.S. forces identify and track potential aerial threats, thereby enhancing situational awareness on the battlefield.
As per the contractual obligations, these radar systems will be delivered to designated locations within the Central Command’s area of responsibility, and the contract will also cover necessary training and technical support for system integration and operational use.
“The threat posed by unmanned systems is real and continually evolving. By equipping Central Command forces with the most advanced technologies, we ensure they possess the decisive advantages necessary to protect our personnel and uphold our strategic interests,” stated Army Colonel Matthew Strohman, the director of capability management for mobile anti-drone systems at the Joint Interagency Task Force 401.
Moreover, last month, the Pentagon signed a framework agreement with BAE Systems, which is expected to procure up to 25,000 intercept kits annually over the course of seven years. These kits are designed to counter drone and aerial threats effectively.