#autonomous-warfare

All articles tagged with "autonomous-warfare"

Wearing a camouflaged uniform and helmet, Marine Corps Cpl. Calvin Burke holds his arm outstretched as he activates a small drone to survey the defensive line for opposing forces during a simulated assault and seizure at Glen Airfield, Queensland, Australia, July 2025.

Pentagon Seeks $53.6 Billion for Drones in Historic Autonomous Warfare Push

The U.S. Defense Department wants to spend $53.6 billion on drone and counter-drone programs in fiscal 2027, part of a larger shift toward autonomous warfare that would rival the military budgets of man

Key Takeaways

The Defense Department wants $53.6 billion for drone and counter-drone programs in fiscal 2027.
The request sits under the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, which had only about $226 million in fiscal 2026.

DT Editorial Team·Apr 22, 2026·via arstechnica.com

Pentagon Launches $100 Million Challenge to Master Drone Swarm Warfare

The Defense Innovation Unit has announced a $100 million Orchestrator Prize Challenge, seeking technology that lets commanders control mixed swarms of drones from different manufacturers using plain language commands. The program represents a strategic pivot from buying individual drones to coordinating autonomous fleets.

Key Takeaways

Pentagon's $100M Orchestrator Prize Challenge targets drone swarm command-and-control
System would let commanders direct mixed drone fleets using plain language orders

DT Editorial Team·Feb 25, 2026·4 min read·via defenseone.com