Pentagon says US industry still years from matching Ukraine's wartime output

The Pentagon’s top drone official admitted Monday that the U.S. industrial base is still years away from matching Ukraine’s wartime drone production, despite recent efforts to boost domestic capabilities. Travis Metz, deputy director and chief operating officer of the Defense Innovation Unit, spoke during an interview about the challenges facing the U.S. in scaling its drone manufacturing. He noted that Ukraine is projected to produce between six and seven million small first-person-view attack drones this year, averaging around 500,000 per month. In contrast, the Pentagon’s $1.1 billion drone initiative had ordered just under 200,000 drones by February, highlighting a significant gap in production capacity. Metz emphasized that building a robust domestic drone industry from scratch is particularly challenging. He described the transition from zero to a substantial number of drones as the most difficult stage of the process. Once the U.S. establishes a mature manufacturing base, scaling up would become easier. However, current progress remains limited, with the U.S. producing far fewer drones than Ukraine. The Pentagon’s new rules, which require military drones to be constructed using American-made parts, have added complexity to the task. These regulations aim to create a fully domestic supply chain for small unmanned aircraft systems, though they have increased sourcing difficulties. A key challenge lies in securing hard-to-source components, especially semiconductors, which remain problematic beyond the drone-specific effort. During a recent test event, none of the drones from the 19 participating companies could include banned parts such as Chinese-made brushless motors or battery packs. This represents a stricter standard than previously allowed, as Metz estimated that “the vast majority” of earlier purchases likely contained such components. Despite these hurdles, he expressed confidence that the U.S. can eventually match or surpass Ukraine’s drone production capabilities. Looking ahead, Metz outlined plans for the upcoming “Gauntlet II” test at Fort Carson, Colorado, where six Ukrainian companies have been invited to compete. All participants are required to form joint ventures with U.S. manufacturers as a prerequisite for receiving future contracts. For example, Ukrainian company F-Drones has partnered with Ohio-based Ukrainian Defense Drones, which recently established a facility near Toledo. Similarly, General Cherry, another Ukrainian drone manufacturer, has agreed to collaborate with New Hampshire’s Wilcox Industries. These partnerships aim to integrate Ukraine’s battlefield experience with American manufacturing infrastructure, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers. The requirement for localized production in the U.S. is part of a broader strategy to transform Ukraine’s expertise into sustainable domestic capacity. By mandating that successful companies establish operations within the country, the Pentagon hopes to foster long-term growth in the U.S. drone industry. This approach reflects a shift from temporary support to permanent investment, aligning with the administration’s broader goals for national security and technological self-reliance. As the U.S. continues to navigate the complexities of establishing a competitive drone manufacturing sector, the path forward remains uncertain. While the initial stages of development are proving arduous, the Pentagon remains committed to achieving its objectives. With ongoing collaboration between Ukrainian and American firms, the hope is that the U.S. will eventually emerge as a global leader in drone technology, capable of meeting both immediate and long-term defense needs.