10 Jul 25. Hegseth calls for extensive reforms to Pentagon drone-buying practices. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday announced sweeping changes to the way the Pentagon buys and fields uncrewed air systems, or UAS, with a goal of establishing “UAS domain dominance” by 2027. Hegseth announced the policy changes in a video recorded on the Pentagon’s front lawn. With Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” playing in the background, a quadcopter delivered a memo announcing the policy changes, which Hegseth then signed.
“While our adversaries have produced millions of cheap drones, before us we were mired in bureaucratic red tape,” he said in the video, which he posted from his official X account. “Not anymore.”
The memo lists three broad goals: bolstering the U.S. drone manufacturing base, delivering thousands of low-cost systems to military units over the next few years and integrating drone operations into training programs.
“Next year I expect to see this capability integrated into all relevant combat training, including force-on-force drone wars,” Hegseth wrote in the memo.
The announcement builds on a June 6 White House executive order that calls for normalizing drone operations and integration into the national airspace as well as investment in production and emerging technologies across commercial, civil and national security sectors. Specifically, Hegseth’s expansive memo rescinds past policies established by the Defense Department in 2021 and 2022 that provide guidance for implementing congressional mandates that restrict the U.S. military from buying drones and components produced by Chinese companies. It gives procurement authority to combat units to buy, test and train with small UAS that comply with statute and encourages “local innovation” like 3D printing parts. The memo also references a Defense Innovation Unit-led effort called Blue UAS — established in 2020 as a process for certifying commercial drones for military use. According to the memo, DIU will now work with the Defense Contract Management Agency to scale its “Blue List,” an inventory of compliant drones.
“The Blue List will be dynamic, retaining all previous component and supply chain findings, and including updated performance evaluations from testing and key lessons learned from training,” the memo states.
The document says that DOD has failed to field UAS at speed and in the numbers that the modern battlefield requires. It calls for department-wide reforms to how the military services buy drones and directs the secretaries of each department to “modify or delete” any policies that overregulate testing, training, procurement and fielding. Further, it directs the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps to each create active duty formations by September, built for the sole purpose of scaling the use of small drones across DOD — with initial systems delivered to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command by 2026. The services must also create and resource “unsubordinated program offices” focused entirely on rapidly acquiring drones. The memo also tasks them to identify, by September, any existing programs whose requirements would be better met by uncrewed systems. The services will be required to detail improves they’ve made to acquisition processes as part of their fiscal 2027 budget submissions.
Hegseth also tasks the Department of Government Efficiency and the Office of Strategic Capital with presenting financing options — like direct loans or advance purchase commitments — to inject funding into the U.S. drone industrial base.
“Our adversaries have a head start in small UAS, but we will perform a technological leapfrog and establish small UAS domain dominance by the end of 2027,” Hegseth wrote. “We will accomplish this urgent goal by combining the Nation’s best qualities, including risk-taking. Senior officers must set the tone. Accelerating this critical battlefield technology requires a Department of War culture.” (Source: Defense News)
09 Jul 25. Helsing to open UK’s first Resilience Factory in Plymouth. Helsing will provide allied navies with AI-powered miniature submarines to protect underwater infrastructure. Defence technology company Helsing has disclosed plans to open a Resilience Factory in Plymouth, UK this year as part of a £350m ($475.95m) Trinity House investment. This move is expected to generate high-value employment opportunities and position Plymouth as a key player in marine autonomy. The planned facility in Plymouth will be dedicated to producing autonomous underwater miniature submarines. These submarines, powered by AI, are intended for continuous maritime surveillance and for safeguarding vital subsea infrastructure. In a LinkedIn post, Helsing said: “The first UK Resilience Factory is planned to produce SG-1 Fathom in the National Centre for Marine Autonomy.” In May 2025, Helsing unveiled its Lura software platform and SG-1 Fathom autonomous underwater gliders. Helsing UK managing director Ned Baker said: “Helsing supports the Government’s ambitions for our defences and economy. We are investing in both by opening the first UK Resilience Factory and accelerating our £350m commitment.
“We have confidence in the Government’s commitment to new technological solutions for defence. Together, we can attract further private investment, equipping our armed forces and growing the economy.”
The development coincides with the release of the Defence and Economic Growth Taskforce’s recommendations, a collaborative effort between the government and the defence industry aimed at capitalising on the economic opportunities within the UK’s defence sector. The taskforce has outlined a “Team UK” approach that focuses on fostering innovation, attracting private investment, and creating jobs, particularly in the realm of high-value defence technologies.
“The new era of threats demands a new era for defence and security,” stated Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves.
She highlighted the government’s commitment to increasing defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by April 2027. Reeves noted that initiatives like Helsing’s Resilience Factory align with their ‘Plan for Change’ to unlock economic potential in the defence sector while securing the nation. The Defence and Economic Growth Taskforce has put forth proposals for ‘Defence Growth Deals’ designed to stimulate investment beyond traditional defence strongholds. UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey said: “I welcome the Defence and Economic Growth Taskforce’s report which recognises how we can boost high-skilled jobs across the country and grow our economy while strengthening our frontline forces.” The Taskforce, jointly led by the Chancellor and Defence Secretary, with support from the Confederation of British Industry and consultancy Oliver Wyman, has further recommended procurement reforms, export support, and enhanced backing for dual-use technologies. These recommendations will form part of a comprehensive Defence Industrial Strategy expected to be unveiled later in 2025. (Source: naval-technology.com)
08 Jul 25. British Army in talks to buy killer drones from Silicon Valley start-up. Fleet of AI-powered drones could be fast-tracked into service as part push to make Britain war-ready.The British Army is in talks with a Silicon Valley drone maker about rushing a fleet of autonomous helicopters into service as military chiefs prepare to fight a war in as little as two years. The advanced robots – manufactured by American start-up Anduril – would be put under the command of the Army’s manned Apache gunships, allowing them to be sent ahead to carry out dangerous tasks such as reconnaissance, missile strikes or force protection. Under early proposals discussed by Anduril and military officials, the company said the machines and their software could be developed and manufactured in just three years. They would be the anchor product of a major drone factory the company is looking at building in the UK. Anduril’s design would also aim to use common electrical components that would be easier to obtain during a conflict than specialist parts.
Richard Drake, head of Anduril UK, said: “This would mean you can run an Apache with crew in it, alongside maybe four or five of our uncrewed helicopters. They could go further forward into the battle while the Apache and its people remain further away from danger, so you are increasing lethality while keeping people safer at the same time.”
War-ready
The proposal is being considered as part of plans to “triple” the Army’s lethality by the end of this decade under Gen Sir Roland Walker, the chief of the general staff. (Source: Daily Telegraph)
02 Jul 25. USAF F-16, F-15 pilots in human-machine teaming demo. This exercise marks an advancement in incorporating autonomous collaborative platforms into combat operations. The event saw USAF pilots flying an F-16C Fighting Falcon and an F-15E Strike Eagle successfully controlling two XQ-58A Valkyrie drones each in a simulated air combat scenario. The XQ-58A Valkyrie is an uncrewed aerial vehicle characterised by its high speed, extended range, and cost-efficiency. It is part of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology portfolio. The demonstration highlighted the real-time coordination between crewed fighters and semi-autonomous systems. It emphasises the potential for autonomous collaborative platforms (ACPs) to work alongside crewed aircraft, potentially reducing pilot workload and increasing combat efficiency and situational awareness. The exercise was supported by the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve programme. (Source: airforce-technology.com)