Tests Show Catastrophic Lag of the US in Drone Production - NYT

American Drones: Problems in the Military Industry

According to hvylya.net: Four-day military exercises in the Alaskan desert highlighted serious issues in the American defense industry regarding drone production. Prototypes of drones from American startups proved to be flawed, missing targets by 80 feet, crashing during launches, and colliding with mountains, reports The New York Times.

'We all know the same thing. We are not giving the American soldier what he needs to survive in modern warfare,' said Trent Emeneker, manager of the Military Innovation Defense Unit's Autonomy Portfolio. 'If we had to go to war tomorrow, do we have what we need? No.'

Industry experts confirmed the dramatic lag: the Chinese company DJI controls 70% of the global commercial drone market and can manufacture millions of drones each year - 'one hundred times more than anyone in the US,' according to Bobby Sakaki from UAS NEXUS.

Drone Production in the US

About 500 American companies together produce fewer than 100,000 drones a year, while the military's needs far exceed this number. Even electronic warfare systems developed over a decade ago to combat terrorists proved ineffective against modern drones.

The only exception is the American company Neros with an office in Ukraine, whose drone Archer has proven to be very effective, able to bypass soldiers' defensive equipment and remain stealthy due to rapid frequency changes.

The military exercises in the Alaskan desert revealed serious problems in the American defense industry regarding drone production. Prototypes of drones developed in the US showed significant flaws, raising doubts about their effectiveness in modern conditions. The Chinese company DJI controls a significant share of the global drone market, highlighting the lag of American manufacturers in this area.