Pentagon says it delivered over 25,000 unmanned and counter-drone systems to CENTCOM in 2026
The Pentagon says that this year it has sent U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) over 25,000 uncrewed and anti-drone systems, with roughly $782 million in investment behind the effort, according to a report by Defence Industry Europe.
More than 24,000 of the systems are meant to counter drones. According to the Pentagon, they went to troops via Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and are intended to shield forces stationed forward from drone attacks.
The deliveries also include more than 1,300 one-way attack drones, which are built for precision strikes at longer ranges. CENTCOM further received more than 100 uncrewed surface and underwater vessels to widen its maritime reconnaissance and strike options, the Pentagon said.
The department said it is scaling up output on commercial production lines and relying on modular software so that new gear reaches troops more quickly. Its stated aim is to give commanders cheaper systems that can be fielded in volume, which would lessen the need to use up missiles and other munitions costing millions of dollars apiece.
“The thousands of systems operating across CENTCOM this year are just the beginning. We will out-innovate, out-build, and out-adapt any adversary on the battlefield.”
The Pentagon intends to continue supplying CENTCOM while also extending deliveries to U.S. forces in the Pacific, in Europe and across the broader joint force.
According to the report, the program also prepares the ground for Autonomous Warfare Command, a four-star combatant command that is planned to be set up by Oct. 1, 2027.
