Expendable Drones: Appreciating the Evolving Technology – and Character – of War

Abstract

In a US Army TRADOC’s Mad Scientist blog, John Bitterman, Elise Annett, and Dr. James Giordano address the expanding weaponized capabilities – and threats – of unmanned vehicular systems when coupled to iterative forms of artificial intelligence. This blog post explores the accelerating role of expendable drones and unmanned vehicular systems (UVS) in transforming modern warfare. Recent conflicts in Ukraine and Colombia illustrate how drones are being employed for long-range strikes, swarming attacks, intelligence, logistics, and counter-UAS operations. These developments emphasize the versatility of low-cost autonomous systems and the challenges they pose for command and control, cybersecurity, and strategic attribution. The authors examine U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s initiative to “unleash drone dominance,” which emphasizes modernization, deregulation, and expanded production to secure U.S. military advantage. Key considerations include building resilient supply chains for rare earth minerals, advancing predictive intelligence, and developing counter-drone technologies. Looking forward, this piece highlights a shift from prescriptive decision-making frameworks toward adaptive, autopoietic systems capable of human-machine teaming. Such a transition demands not only technological innovation but also a cultural evolution in military doctrine to ensure responsible integration, operational effectiveness, and long-term strategic dominance.

Document Type

Article

Topic(s)

Defense Policy, Emerging Science and Technologies, Logistics and Readiness, Military Strategy, National Security, Strategic Competition

Region(s)

Ukraine, Russia, Colombia, United States

Publication Date

9-4-2025

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