The Pentagon¡¯s largest-ever budget request earmarks $75 billion for drones and technologies to counter them, mainly for a massive increase for a little-known office working with U.S. commandos to test and evaluate various systems, according to defense officials.
The drone-funding proposal includes $54.6 billion for the Defense Autonomous Working Group, or DAWG, from just $225.9 million this year. That would appear to be the largest single year-over-year boost of any defense program or office, meaning it¡¯s likely to draw particular congressional and public scrutiny in an already eye-catching $1.5 trillion request that¡¯s 42% larger than this year¡¯s budget.
The big boost for the Pentagon¡¯s little-known drone unit comes as the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran illustrates how drones can help level the playing field against even the world¡¯s most well-funded armed forces. Tehran has sent volleys of its cheap Shahed one-way attack drones into energy facilities and other buildings across the Persian Gulf, closing the Strait of Hormuz to tanker traffic, raising global energy prices and putting pressure on U.S. President Donald Trump to find a diplomatic off-ramp.
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