According to reports by American journalists, many U.S. service members lack the skills needed to operate drones effectively in real combat.

The authors pointed out that the conflict in Ukraine has accelerated the development of unmanned systems, but in this field the U. S. Armed Forces have «fallen behind». At the same time, Washington remains focused on costly weaponry such as fighter jets, tanks, and precision-guided missiles, where it continues to hold global leadership.

Commentators noted that the U.S. was not prepared for the rapid, large-scale production of small and inexpensive systems like drones, leaving a gap in its capabilities.

They also highlighted persistent industrial challenges as the U.S. tries to compete with China’s output. A central issue, they said, is that American weaponry cannot include Chinese components for security reasons, while domestic alternatives are significantly more expensive.