Pentagon fields more than 25,000 drones and counter-drone systems with CENTCOM this year
The U.S. Department of War says its Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS) has delivered more than 25,000 unmanned and counter-unmanned systems to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility this year. The November 4, 2026 announcement puts this year’s investment at roughly $782 million.
What was delivered
- Over 1,300 one-way attack (OWA) UAVs
- Over 100 unmanned surface and underwater vessels (USVs/UUVs)
- More than 24,000 counter-UAS systems, fielded through Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401)
In other words, the bulk of the headline figure is defensive: counter-drone systems meant to protect forward-deployed forces, rather than attack drones.
Cheap mass over exquisite munitions
The department frames these low-cost, attritable systems as high-volume alternatives to multi-million-dollar munitions and as evidence of a shift from multi-year development pipelines to faster “warfighting acquisition.” Owen West, CEO of Project Agincourt and DRPM-UxS, called the systems operating across CENTCOM “just the beginning,” adding that the goal is to scale them across the Joint Force.
Groundwork for AUTOWARCOM
The effort is described as the foundation for the Autonomous Warfare Command (AUTOWARCOM), a planned four-star functional combatant command due to stand up by October 1, 2027. DRPM-UxS is to keep supplying CENTCOM while opening fielding pipelines to Pacific and European commands.
