The US military is preparing for a massive expansion of its attack drone arsenal. Hundreds of thousands of kamikaze drones are expected to enter service in 2026, with that number set to climb into the millions over the following years. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outlined the Pentagon’s plans during a military forum in Washington.

The ambitious buildup is backed by $1 billion in funding intended to establish American dominance in unmanned systems. Hegseth explained that the money had been transferred directly to operators on the front lines. The deployment planned for this year marks the beginning of a much larger effort to equip US forces with vast numbers of strike drones.

To support this expansion, the Pentagon has already begun overhauling its weapons procurement system. The department is shifting its focus toward supplying combat units with large quantities of inexpensive yet effective unmanned aircraft. The changes are designed to bring the US military’s equipment and purchasing priorities into line with the demands of modern combat.

President Donald Trump previously revealed that Washington was preparing to introduce an entirely new range of military drones. According to the American leader, these advanced systems will outperform every comparable model currently available elsewhere in the world.