Many internet retailers have reported that US politicians have suggested creating a dedicated US Army Drone Corps to improve military strategy and combat evolving challenges.
The plan draws lessons from the Ukraine battle, where drones have been frequently used on the battlefield. However, major US Army commanders remain skeptical about the need for a dedicated fresh corps.
The new unit’s proposed creation is part of the House Armed Services Committee’s fiscal 2025 defense policy bill, emphasizing unmanned aerial systems ( UAS ) in modern warfare.
According to breaking news reports from Breaking Defense, the proposed US Army Drone Corps would control small and medium-sized UAS and counter-UAS (C- UAS ), integrate these techniques into the force, test and develop new techniques, provide specific training, and develop C- UAS techniques and capabilities. A Drone Corps Chief would be in charge of it, according to the Army Secretary.
A US Army Drone Corps, according to US Congressman Rob Wittman, head of the HASC Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, could help the US Army’s various skills develop and help drones to advance beyond their present responsibilities.
Wittman says a US Army Drone Corps seeks to elevate the service’s electronic warfare ( EW ) from organizational misalignment. He also recently stated that the US Army required much EW and C-UAS capabilities.
According to Wittman,” It is obvious that the Army command needs better ideas and a regeneration of the idea as they prepare our Army for the rapidly evolving prospect of discord.”
The proposal also mentions establishing an Electronic Warfare Center of Excellence, which would have been influenced by EW’s growing significance in the Ukraine conflict, in addition to a US Army Drone Corps.
Furthermore, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Solano, a strong advocate for the US Army Drone Corps, underscores that drones are no longer the future but the present of warfare.  ,
A US Army Drone Corps, according to its supporters, will promote innovation, streamline training, and entice highly skilled operators and engineers. After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky established a similar branch, which recognized drones ‘ potency against Russian forces, the idea gained momentum.
If approved, the US Army Drone Corps would bring the service’s drone operations to the forefront, making them integral to its strategic framework.
Solano discusses the military justification for creating a US Army drone corps in a February 2024 Breaking Defense article.
He claims that the recent change in military strategies, as seen in the ongoing Ukraine war, highlights the increasing importance of UAS on the battlefield, which should prompt the US to develop a new strategy that fully exploits their capabilities.
Furthermore, Solano says the US military should establish a separate service UAS branch, focusing on the Army, Air Force and Navy. He adds that this change is required because drones are increasingly being used in combat.
He points out that drones have tactical advantages over conventional aircraft, armor, or infantry. The US Army’s experience deploying uncrewed system forces, such as Task Force ODIN during the Global War on Terrorism, makes the service an ideal test case, he adds.
Solano points out that the US Army Drone Corps could incorporate UAS into its combat strategies. This action would require specialist training and the development of new talent, and it would aim to entice drone hobbyists and experts to promote UAS integration and innovation.
He mentions that the US Army might consider using drone tactics to update its physical standards and applications of technology.
A unified Drone Corps, according to Solano, could coordinate drone technology development and joint strategy, synchronize military strategy across air and ground domains, and protect other combat arms branches ‘ distinctive capabilities.
He points out that the US Army Drone Corps ‘ establishment would enable the service to make use of modern technology more effectively.
However, senior US Army leadership may not be receptive to creating a US Army Drone Corps, citing doctrinal, operational and organizational issues.
The US Army Chief of Staff Randy George stated in a Defense One article this month that the organization views drones as being integrated into formations rather than as a separate unit, and that having a separate drone corps would n’t be helpful.
Additionally, Gabe Camarillo, the Undersecretary of the Army, claimed that it would be premature to form a US Army Drone Corps. According to the Defense One report, he claims the US Army must first test drones in order to find the best way to use them in its formations.
Leadership issues might also arise as a result of the US Army Drone Corps ‘ formation. Some people fear that the new branch will have a high-ranking general in charge of the current US Army hierarchy, which is suggested by the House Armed Services Committee.
Defense One claims that the service is interested in investing in drones and C-UAS systems despite the skepticism surrounding the establishment of a US Army Drone Corps. China and Russia, two close-knit US allies, have taken different actions to improve their UAS and C-UAS capabilities.
This month, The War Zone ( TWZ ) reported that China has released a video showing its People’s Liberation Army ( PLA ) training to stand up to first-person view ( FPV ) drones. This highlights the urgent need for military forces around the world.
In recent years, China has been developing drone technologies for varying capability levels, including for drone swarms. TWZ claims that it has only recently begun teaching soldiers and police how to operate FPV drones themselves.
A March 2024 US Congressional Research Service ( CRS ) report states that the Russian military continues to adapt as a result of the increasing use of drones and EW in the ongoing Ukraine war.
In a Forbes article from April 2024, Vikram Mittal mentions that while Russia has historically been ahead in C-UAS and EW technology, its C-UAS techniques lag behind the development of Ukrainian drones because of its rigid acquisition system.
Consequently, Mittal notes that Russia has opted for simplistic and unconventional methods to counter Ukraine’s drones, ranging from anti- drone nets, “turtle tanks” with improvised armor and missile strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid infrastructure to cripple its drone production.