PENTAGON SAYS DOW EXPECTS DRONE PRODUCTION TO RISE AS U.S. STRATEGY EVOLVES

WASHINGTON, 2025
The U.S. DEPARTMENT OF WAR said this week that drone production is expected to rise in the coming years; the announcement came as officials outlined how unmanned systems are shaping modern defense strategy, and how the scaling of drone manufacturing connects directly to operational demands across multiple theaters.

The U.S. DEPARTMENT OF WAR explained that research, development, and procurement lines have been adjusting across the department; officials said the changes reflect a growing recognition that unmanned aerial systems now play a central role in layered surveillance, battlefield coordination, and rapid-response targeting. The department stated that, by 2027, manufacturing volume may rise in several key categories of unmanned systems; this reflects ongoing work between program managers and contracted partners, who are adapting production schedules to meet strategic requirements.

PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY MAJ GEN PATRICK S RYDER said that unmanned platforms have continued to demonstrate their utility in present operations; he noted that the department is observing how partner nations employ these systems in their own missions, and how those observations can clarify future acquisition decisions. Ryder said the department’s interest lies primarily in reliability, endurance, operational flexibility, and cost-sustainment ratios; these factors help determine which systems can be incorporated into long-term planning.

The U.S. DEPARTMENT OF WAR said current procurement strategies remain under review; officials noted that the scaling of drone production will proceed alongside testing cycles and field evaluations. Ryder added that the department is assessing how new technologies connect to existing force structures, and how unmanned platforms inform the development of integrated battle networks. He said this process requires coordination between combatant commands, research offices, and acquisition authorities; each branch provides input that shapes the department’s broader modernization approach.

The department also noted that unmanned systems continue to influence training requirements across the services; officials explained that operational units will integrate more unmanned platforms into exercises, which may increase the need for specialized maintenance crews and technical operators. Ryder said the department intends to maintain transparency as production schedules evolve; he emphasized that all procurement actions remain subject to established oversight channels.

Our article reflects only the statements issued by THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF WAR and PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY MAJ GEN PATRICK S RYDER; we have not included any interpretation or projection beyond what those sources confirmed in official releases.

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Sources
• THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF WAR
• PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY MAJ GEN PATRICK S RYDER