Higsith Orders Increase in Drone Production to Address Global Challenges

SadaNews - U.S. Defense Secretary, Pete Higsith, has ordered the military to increase production of small drones to counter rising global threats. Higsith issued a memorandum on Thursday clarifying that this policy "goes beyond" the related executive order signed by President Donald Trump on June 6.

The Secretary wrote: "Drones are the biggest innovation on the battlefield in a whole generation, and they are responsible for most of this year’s losses in Ukraine." He added: "Our adversaries combined produce millions of cheap drones annually. While global military drone production has surged enormously over the past three years, the previous administration resorted to tightening bureaucratic procedures."

According to Higsith, the Army's efforts will consist of three main elements: enhancing drone manufacturing in the United States, supporting technological developments related to them, and training for their use to simulate what soldiers may face on the modern battlefield, according to the American newspaper "Washington Examiner".

The U.S. Defense Secretary added: "Drone technology is evolving at a tremendous pace, and the main risk we face is hesitance to take risks." He continued: "The rigid bureaucratic procedures adopted by the department have proven to be flawed."

The use of drones by Russia and Ukraine at the frontlines has shocked armies around the world. Russia received hundreds of one-way small attack drones from Iran for use in Ukraine, and the Iranians have helped the Russians establish their own production factory for them.

Defending against small drones is difficult, and their manufacturing is cheap compared to larger, more advanced weapons in military arsenals.

The Ukrainians launched a surprise drone attack on June 1 from within Russian territory, targeting several military bases. By smuggling the drones secretly across the border before launching them, the attack managed to significantly thwart Russian air defense systems.

Air Force Chief, General David Alvin, stated in early June: "This is a wake-up moment, we were already awake, but it’s just a moment of surprise." He added: "We have always recognized that fortifying our bases is essential, and we already have a budget allocated for that, enabling us to build more resilient bases."

But the issue is not limited to Russia and Ukraine. Israel has also used drones in its 12-day confrontation with Iran last month, according to the report.

In January 2024, three American military personnel were killed and over 40 others injured in a drone attack on "Tower 22," a small U.S. base located in northeastern Jordan near its borders with Iraq and Syria.