U.S. Pentagon Creates New Unmanned Systems Office to Accelerate Autonomous Deployment

The U.S. Department of Defense established a new Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS) to consolidate all autonomous and unmanned systems-related efforts. The office reports directly to the Deputy Secretary of War. The Pentagon plans to deliver tens of thousands of small drones to U.S. forces in 2026 and hundreds of thousands more by 2027. Warfighting doctrine is being reshaped to integrate unmanned systems throughout combat units, with the new office aimed at streamlining procurement and reducing deployment delays.