United States | Against expensive excellence

The US Army needs less good, cheaper drones to compete

It seems obvious. So what is stopping it from happening?

An American soldier assembles the Ghosi-X unmanned aircraft system
Photograph: US Army

IN UKRAINE BOTH sides are deploying millions of low-cost drones, which play a role in combat as both scouts and weapons. The US Army, long considered a leader in this field, has been following events in Ukraine closely. But the Pentagon is acquiring only small numbers of drones at high cost. Why are American drones so expensive, and can prices be brought down?

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This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “Against expensive excellence”

From the January 11th 2025 edition

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