Pentagon Official Says US Starts From 'Basically Zero' on Cheap Military Drones
By Haye Kesteloo · · TexaHub · Drones, Defence & Security
The acting head of the Defense Innovation Unit said the US is starting from "basically zero" on mass-producing cheap drones, as its Drone Dominance Program targets about 250,000 drones by the end of 2027 while Russia is expected to build 7.3 million this year, according to Ukrainian intelligence.
Production Gap
Travis Metz, acting head of the Defense Innovation Unit, said the United States is "starting from basically zero" on mass-producing cheap military drones, according to a Bloomberg feature published on October 31, 2026 and summarised by DroneXL. [1]
The Pentagon's Drone Dominance Program aims for about 250,000 drones by the end of 2027, backed by roughly $1.1 billion for a four-stage competition launched by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in July 2025. Ukrainian intelligence expects Russia to build 7.3 million small expendable drones this year, Bloomberg Intelligence estimated in February that China can surge to 500,000 a month, and Ukraine says it will make 10 million this year. [1]
Delivery Shortfalls
In the first phase in March, 11 companies received $150 million for 30,000 one-way attack drones due over five months. By mid-September only three had delivered their full orders, and officials put the average price at $5,000 per drone. Neros Technologies of Torrance, California, took on 800 drones that other vendors failed to deliver. The second phase covers 60,000 drones, with 10 winners named in mid-September. [1]
Col. Danielle Medaglia said more than $850 million has flowed through the Army's drone marketplace, which opened in March and was extended to other services in August. The Army took delivery of 8,500 small drones through the Gauntlet competitions and service programmes in fiscal 2026. [1]
Chinese Parts and Factories
China dominates supply of batteries, brushless motors and propellers, and Pentagon rules bar or restrict Chinese components. Teal Drones builds 1,000 Black Widow and 2,000 Fang FPV drones a month and pays a premium for compliant parts, while Skydio chief executive Adam Bry said his company has effectively eliminated direct dependence on China but warned that claims of zero dependence are likely overstated. [1]
Performance Drone Works holds $820 million in Defense Department loans and targets 1 million critical components a year by the end of 2028. Jon Strzelec of Army Materiel Command said the Army is targeting 50,000 brushless motors by the end of fiscal 2027. AeroVironment aims to build 400 Switchblades a month at a Salt Lake City plant by next year. [1]
Trent Emeneker, a retired Marine aviator who vetted drone makers for the Pentagon, said the US would need to make a million drones a month in a major combat scenario. According to AUVSI figures cited in the report, more than $60 billion went into over 220 US drone companies between January 2025 and September 2026. [1]
Sources
[1] Pentagon At 'Basically Zero' On Cheap Drones As Russia Builds 7.3M — DroneXL