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US Army to Increase Drone Use Instead of Armored Vehicles, Drawing Lessons From Ukraine Frontlines

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Amira Barkhush
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US Army to Increase Drone Use Instead of Armored Vehicles, Drawing Lessons From Ukraine Frontlines
A soldier with the Lithuanian army prepares a drone during the “Allied Spirit 25” US military and NATO training exercise at the US Army’s Hohenfels training area in Hohenfels, Germany, March 12, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)

The United States has launched a large-scale rearmament effort by shifting focus from planned armored vehicle contracts to acquiring thousands of drones, according to an article published by The Wall Street Journal on April 30.

Drawing heavily on lessons from the war in Ukraine, the US Army is reportedly overhauling its forces with the goal of equipping each division with a fleet of around 1,000 drones, while phasing out outdated equipment.

According to the outlet, the first phase of the plan will see 10 divisions reequipped with unmanned aerial vehicles to support frontline operations. These drones will be used for reconnaissance, strike missions, and ammunition delivery to troops at the front.

“We’ve got to learn how to use drones, how to fight with them, how to scale them, produce them, and employ them in our fights so we can see beyond line of sight,” said Col. Donald Neal, the commander of the US 2nd Cavalry Regiment. “We’ve always had drones since I’ve been in the Army, but it has been very few.”

Daniel Driscoll, the secretary of the Army, said the first three brigades, units of 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers within divisions, have already been equipped with some of the new drone systems. He expects the transformation of the remaining units to take about two years.

Army units that have not yet begun the upgrade typically rely on a limited number of long-range reconnaissance systems, many of which were first deployed over a decade ago.

Drones are just one part of the military’s broader modernization push. According to the report, the US Army also aims to integrate cellphones, tablets and internet technology into the battlefield ecosystem. It is investing around $3 billion in the development of advanced counter-drone systems and electronic warfare capabilities.

Officials say the complete overhaul will require $36 billion in funding over the next five years. The Army plans to fund it without increasing the defense budget by phasing out outdated weapons systems and retiring others. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the plan in a directive signed earlier this week.

“We aren’t going to ask for more money,” Gen. Randy George, the Army chief of staff, said. “What we want to do is spend the money that we have better.”

As part of the overhaul, the Army is ending procurement of Humvees, its primary utility vehicle for decades, and will no longer purchase the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. It is also halting orders for the M10 light tank, which turned out to be heavier and less effective than originally envisioned when the program launched a decade ago.

Additionally, the Army plans to retire some older Apache attack helicopters. Reducing civilian personnel is expected to further contribute to overall cost savings.

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