US Army Requests Nearly $1 Billion to Combat Small Drones

The United States Army has requested nearly one billion dollars in its fiscal year 2027 budget to develop capabilities for destroying small drones, representing a 67 percent increase from the previous year's funding request. The anti-drone defense program has become one of the largest investment items for ground forces under the "Other Procurement" budget category. The substantial funding increase reflects growing military concerns about the threat posed by small unmanned aerial vehicles on modern battlefields, as demonstrated in conflicts such as the war in Ukraine where both sides have extensively used commercial and military drones for reconnaissance, targeting, and direct attacks.