Latest news with #warfighting
Japan Times
21-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Pentagon looks to unleash ‘military drone dominance'
While no one knows when or where the next major war will break out, what is becoming clear is that next time the United States engages directly in a conflict, U.S. combat units will be sharing their battle space with a different type of force — drones, lots of them. In a push for the world's most powerful military to 'meet the demands of 21st-century warfighting,' Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Pentagon to fast-track the adoption and boost the number of various small drones deployed across the force, treating them as 'consumable or expendable' capabilities similar to bullets, hand grenades and other munitions. The new initiative aims to ramp up the production, experimentation and fielding of small unmanned systems weighing less than 55 pounds (25 kilograms). This includes one-way, 'kamikaze' attack drones and loitering munitions to maintain 'battlefield superiority' as Washington's geopolitical and technological rivalry with Beijing intensifies. 'U.S. units are not outfitted with the lethal small drones the modern battlefield requires,' Hegseth wrote in a memo signed earlier this month as he unveiled a near-term plan to 'unleash U.S. military drone dominance' and drastically boost the force's drone arsenal. The goal is to equip every squad with low-cost, expendable drones by the end of 2026, with Indo-Pacific combat units prioritized. To speed up the process, the Pentagon chief ordered the removal of 'restrictive' internal policies that 'overregulate' the procurement, testing, training and fielding of such systems. 'While global military drone production skyrocketed over the last three years, the previous administration deployed red tape,' he claimed, in a jab at the administration of former President Joe Biden. Soren Monroe-Anderson (center), chief executive and co-founder of Neros, a startup based in El Segundo, California, joins a military exercise demonstrating how far the U.S. military and American drone companies lag behind China in the technology, at the Yukon Training Area in Alaska on June 25. | Ash Adams / The New York Times Stacie Pettyjohn, defense program director at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), said that the latest changes will 'dramatically reduce' the red tape that has made it difficult to purchase, operate, train and incorporate small drones into the military. 'This is not an ethical or moral issue but rather changing the way that small drones are categorized so that they can be rapidly purchased, fielded in small batches and easily and frequently updated,' she said. A chronic problem for U.S. ground forces has been that they are asked to account for their drones in much the same way they would with expensive, high-end systems such as helicopters. This has made it difficult to conduct rapid experimentation and training with drones. To solve this, the revisions simplify the purchase of small drones by circumventing the ponderous acquisition process used for large weapon systems while empowering field grade officers such as captains and colonels to buy, train and experiment with drones, Pettyjohn added. Existing test, evaluation and certification processes will also be sped up, while training requirements for small drone operators will be reduced, as will regulations on where small drones can be flown in the U.S., she said. Drone training ranges will also be established and incorporated into large-scale exercises. Besides putting these systems more easily into warfighters' hands, the initiative has two other key objectives. One is to bolster the U.S. drone industry by purchasing locally made systems and parts with help from industry's private capital, in line with a June 6 executive order by President Donald Trump. The other is to use the new tech to train in 'more realistic' and less risk-averse battlefield scenarios, with Hegseth saying that he expects to see this capability integrated into all relevant combat training by next year, including 'force-on-force drone wars.' In a push for the world's most powerful military to 'meet the demands of 21st-century warfighting,' U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Pentagon to fast-track the adoption and boost the number of various small drones deployed across the force. | U.S. Marine Corps Eric Heginbotham, a security scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Center for International Studies, said that most of the eased regulations focus on who can make procurement decisions and how. There is no mention of changes to the autonomy or human control of drones. This is important since any autonomous weapon systems developed and fielded through the new drone initiative would still have to undergo rigorous testing and comply with Pentagon policy. 'The memo pushes some procurement authority down to lower levels while easing the path for various drones and subsystems to be placed on a list that exempts them from certain kinds of reviews,' he said. Experts say that the significance of these changes is that they ease regulations that were prone to slowing the procurement cycle considerably and at times added considerable cost while producing marginal benefits in order to address niche conditions. Moreover, drone technology is changing so quickly that the Pentagon's minimum two-year acquisition process 'guarantees that drones provided to warfighters through this traditional acquisition pathway are already obsolete,' said CNAS's Pettyjohn. But one key question is whether defense budget dollars will support the implementation of Hegseth's memo, which was vague on funding. It said only that 'investment methods' outlined in Trump's recent executive order 'are being investigated.' A spokesperson later mentioned 'leveraging' Pentagon savings from the Department of Government Efficiency but provided no further details. Funding will be crucial, as the initiative will require the military services to substantially increase investments in drone systems. Financing aside, instead of breaking with the past, analysts view Hegseth's initiative rather as an expansion of Biden-era measures. They say that the Pentagon was already moving toward these changes, regardless of the president, given the growing importance of these capabilities and the need to swiftly scale experimentation and fielding. A Ukrainian drone pilot in the country's Kharkiv region in April. Ukraine has modified Chinese-made hobbyist drones for military use against the Russians. | Tyler Hicks / The New York Times Wars in Ukraine and elsewhere have put a particular focus on the increasingly capable systems, and the Pentagon has been seeking to streamline the procurement process for these drones, which can act as force multipliers, minimize human losses and operate continuously for long periods. 'This was true under the Biden administration, and we can see that (Hegseth's) memo is the current administration's first bid to take this further,' Heginbotham said. For example, in 2021, then-Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks updated the rules for the procurement and operation of drones, allowing the Pentagon to employ commercially developed systems more freely. But Hicks' biggest step in this field was arguably the 2023 launch of 'Replicator,' an initiative focused on rapidly fielding thousands of cheap, smart and autonomous drones across multiple domains to counter China's military advantage in personnel and manned equipment and deter a potential invasion of Taiwan. Michael Horowitz, who served as the Pentagon's first-ever deputy assistant defense secretary for force development and emerging capabilities, said Hegseth's new initiative builds on both Replicator and the Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve — a program designed to accelerate new capability developments that address urgent military needs — although it is not linked to either in the memo. 'Whether the Pentagon continues Replicator in name or not isn't entirely clear,' Horowitz told The Japan Times, but Replicator demonstrated that 'attritable, autonomous drone capabilities across multiple domains are ready to scale and field in the Indo-Pacific today, not a decade from now. 'What we need is more systems fielded quickly,' he added. 'The technology is ready.' Small drones are lined up during a demonstration at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, on July 10. | U.S. MARINE CORPS Yet, unlike the latest initiative, which is primarily aimed at ground forces, Replicator was more heavily oriented toward systems relevant to the Indo-Pacific, specifically both shorter and longer-range systems that would have the range and capability to make themselves felt across the theater. This has impacted how the Pentagon, and especially Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. Samuel Paparo, think about drone capabilities, with the latter imagining short-, mid- and long-range drones being used to create a 'hellscape' that would make it nearly impossible for China's military to cross the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, this also means the latest initiative is unlikely to dramatically change the way the U.S. military would fight China, since most of the changes apply to drones that are too short range to be useful, except for short-range strikes or tactical surveillance. The main way that it could impact the Indo-Pacific is by boosting the currently anemic U.S. drone industry and potentially providing an alternate and trusted supplier of small drones for allies and partners, like Japan, Taiwan and Australia, said Pettyjohn. 'Small drones could significantly augment asymmetric defensive or porcupine strategies for front-line partners and allies,' she said. Indeed, given the way small drones are more likely to be modified from off-the-shelf commercial products and use more open software architectures, Horowitz called them 'ideal capabilities for the Pentagon to work on with allies and partners, including co-production and sustainment.' This will be important for the U.S. since China dominates the small, commercial drone industry, something experts say is unlikely to change anytime soon. Still, they see room for rapid growth as the U.S. aerospace industry is equally dominant in the domain of human flight. 'You already see startups tackling the issue of midrange drones,' Heginbotham said. 'I would guess that the United States will do quite well, though there is also clearly room for actors coming from many other countries.'
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Lurgan: Harv Smyth to become next head of Royal Air Force
A former fighter pilot from County Armagh is to become the next professional head of the Royal Air Force (RAF).Air Marshal Harv Smyth, who was born and educated in Lurgan, is to to take up the role of chief of the air staff in Secretary John Healey confirmed on Wednesday that the King had approved the appointment. AM Smyth will succeed Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton following his promotion to chief of the defence staff.. AM Smyth joined the RAF in 1991 as a direct entrant after leaving school. He spent 15 years as a frontline Harrier pilot and weapons instructor and flew hundreds of operational missions over Bosnia, Kosovo, Serbia, Iraq and chief of the air staff is responsible for the strategic planning and delivery of all RAF operations, people and capability. The position is accountable to the defence secretary for the fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale as well as the development and sustainment of the Smyth said he was "deeply honoured to have been selected". The appointment comes at a transformative time for the RAF as it moves to warfighting readiness following the publication of the Strategic Defence Review. "The Strategic Defence Review makes clear the need for us to rapidly evolve and modernise to meet current and future threats and I am enormously proud to lead the Service at such a crucial point in our history", he added. 'Flying the flag' Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart welcomed AM Smyth's appointment. "This is an incredible achievement and a truly proud moment for his family," the Democratic Unionist Party politician said his journey from Lurgan to the top of the RAF was a "powerful reminder of what can be achieved with determination and integrity". "He is flying the flag high for Lurgan, for Upper Bann and for Northern Ireland", she said.
Sky News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
UK among 19 nations taking part in Australia's largest war exercise - as China expected to watch
Why you can trust Sky News A military exercise bringing together more than 35,000 personnel across 19 different nations, including the UK, is under way in Australia - with Chinese spy ships expected to watch. The drill - the largest-ever war fighting exercise to take place in Australia - officially started on Sunday with a ceremony in Sydney. The biennial drill, known as Exercise Talisman Sabre, started in 2005 as a joint exercise between the US and Australia. This year, personnel from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the United Kingdom have joined. The Ministry of Defence said the UK Carrier Strike Group, including HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Richmond, would be training with forces from New Zealand, among others, ahead of the exercise. "F-35B jets and Merlin helicopters, part of a wider multinational force, are ready to defend and deepen ties across the Indo-Pacific under Operation Highmast," said a post on the MoD's X account. This morning, the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) said on its own X account: "Exercise #TalismanSabre25 begins! UK #CSG25 is excited to join with 18 partner nations and over 35,000 military personnel for the largest iteration of the exercise in its history." The 19 countries will take part in the exercise over three weeks, Australia's defence department said on Sunday, with China expected to monitor activities. The drills will also take place in neighbouring Papua New Guinea, making it the first time Talisman Sabre activities have been held outside Australia. Chinese ships have monitored naval exercises off the Australian coast during the last four Talisman Sabre exercises and were expected to carry out surveillance on the current exercise, Australian defence industry minister Pat Conroy said. "The Chinese military have observed these exercises since 2017. It'd be very unusual for them not to observe it," Mr Conroy told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. "We'll adjust accordingly. We'll obviously observe their activities and monitor their presence around Australia, but we'll also adjust how we conduct those exercises," he added. Mr Conroy said the Chinese were not yet shadowing ships as of Sunday. The drill started a day after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese began a six-day visit to China, where he is expected to hold his fourth face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday. Mr Albanese said Chinese surveillance of Talisman Sabre would not be an issue raised with Mr Xi. "That would be nothing unusual. That has happened in the past and I'll continue to assert Australia's national interest, as I do," Mr Albanese said in Shanghai on Monday.
Arab News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Largest-ever warfighting drills in Australia, Exercise Talisman Sabre, is underway
MELBOURNE: The largest-ever warfighting drills in Australia, Exercise Talisman Sabre, is underway and expected to attract the attention of Chinese spy ships. Talisman Sabre began in 2005 as a biennial joint exercise between the United States and Australia. This year, more than 35,000 military personnel from 19 nations, including Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the United Kingdom, will take part over three weeks, Australia's defense department said on Sunday. Malaysia and Vietnam are also attending as observers. The exercise will also take part in Papua New Guinea, Australia's nearest neighbor. It is the first time Talisman Sabre activities have been held outside Australia. Chinese surveillance ships have monitored naval exercises off the Australian coast during the last four Talisman Sabre exercises and were expected to surveil the current exercise, Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy said. 'The Chinese military have observed these exercises since 2017. It'd be very unusual for them not to observe it,' Conroy told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. 'We'll adjust accordingly. We'll obviously observe their activities and monitor their presence around Australia, but we'll also adjust how we conduct those exercises,' Conroy added. Conroy said the Chinese were not yet shadowing ships as of Sunday. The exercise officially started on Sunday with a ceremony in Sydney attended by Deputy Commanding General of US Army Pacific Lt. Gen. J.B. Vowell and Australia's Chief of Joint Operations Vice-Adm. Justin Jones. The exercise, showcasing Australia's defense alliance with the United States, started a day after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese began a six-day visit to China. Albanese is expected to hold his fourth face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday. The Australian leader has been criticized at home for failing to secure a face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump.
Washington Post
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Largest-ever warfighting drills in Australia, Exercise Talisman Sabre, is underway
MELBOURNE, Australia — The largest-ever warfighting drills in Australia, Exercise Talisman Sabre , is underway and expected to attract the attention of Chinese spy ships. Talisman Sabre began in 2005 as a biennial joint exercise between the United States and Australia. This year, more than 35,000 military personnel from 19 nations, including Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the United Kingdom, will take part over three weeks, Australia's defense department said on Sunday.
