U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has issued a formal directive to senior Pentagon leadership to set forth a clear mandate to accelerate Army modernization and acquisition reform, focusing on countering the growing threat posed by unmanned systems.
The memorandum, dated April 30, 2025, outlines specific targets for the U.S. Army to integrate unmanned systems (UMS) and counter-drone capabilities into operational formations by 2026 and 2027. This strategic guidance emerges against the backdrop of heightened drone activity in global conflict zones, including the ongoing threats emanating from Houthi rebels in Yemen and the broader Red Sea region.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Hegseth’s directive reflects growing concern within the Department of Defense over the evolving nature of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which both state and non-state actors increasingly use to target U.S. military assets, allies, and civilian infrastructure.
“Unmanned systems present both an urgent and enduring danger to American personnel, facilities, and critical assets,” the memo states. “To win tomorrow’s wars, we must adapt today.”
Recent developments in the Middle East—most notably the escalation of drone attacks launched by Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen—have reinforced the urgency of this initiative.
Throughout the past year, U.S. naval and allied commercial vessels operating in the Red Sea have faced swarms of loitering munitions and explosive-laden drones, launched from within Houthi-controlled territory.
These low-cost, asymmetric tools have disrupted maritime security and exposed vulnerabilities in existing air defense systems. The Defense Department now views these tactics as indicative of a broader shift in modern warfare, in which drones play a central role across all domains.
To address this evolving threat landscape, Secretary Hegseth has directed the Army to field Unmanned Systems (UMS) and Ground- and Air-Launched Effects (GLE/ALE) in every division by the end of 2026. In parallel, counter-UAS capabilities must be embedded directly into maneuver platoons by 2026 and extended to maneuver companies by 2027.
The initiative emphasizes not only the tactical deployment of these technologies but also the need for enhanced mobility and cost-efficiency to ensure operational relevance in future conflicts.
As drone threats continue to expand—from the mountains of Yemen to the South China Sea—the United States Department of Defense is advancing a comprehensive and proactive posture. Through a combination of technological innovation, structural reform, and battlefield integration, the U.S. Army is preparing to meet and defeat the threats of tomorrow’s conflicts with decisive capabilities already in motion today.