Pentagon Creates New Drone Office Overseen by Hegseth

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth established a new office that will oversee nearly all of the Pentagon's uncrewed systems, from small one-way attack drones to drone boats and ground robots. The move gives the office's officials sweeping authority over the future of uncrewed programs across the U.S. military.

The new office consolidates decision-making that was previously scattered across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Each service had run its own drone development and acquisition programs, often with different priorities and timelines. A single office with oversight of procurement, testing, and doctrine means the Pentagon can set common standards and push programs faster, officials said.

Hegseth's directive covers the full range of unmanned systems. That includes loitering munitions, surveillance drones, autonomous underwater vehicles, and uncrewed surface vessels. The office will also have a say in ground robots used for logistics and reconnaissance.

The consolidation comes as the U.S. military races to field more drones after watching their effectiveness in Ukraine and the Middle East. Adversaries have used cheap one-way attack drones to destroy expensive armored vehicles and ships, forcing the Pentagon to rethink how it buys and deploys uncrewed systems.

Industry executives and analysts have long argued that the Pentagon's fragmented approach slowed development. Different branches buying similar drones through separate contracts drove up costs and delayed fielding. A single office with program authority is expected to streamline contracting and let companies scale production faster.

Hegseth did not name the official who will lead the office or set a timeline for its first major acquisition decisions. The office will report directly to him, a structure that gives it more leverage over the services than previous cross-branch drone initiatives had.