Pentagon delivers over 25,000 drones and counter-drone systems to CENTCOM

The US military's Central Command, known as CENTCOM, received more than 25,000 unmanned systems and counter-drone tools this year, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.

The deliveries followed a $782 million investment and included more than 1,300 one-way attack drones, over 100 surface and underwater vessels, and more than 24,000 systems designed to counter hostile drone attacks on US forces.

The equipment was routed through the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems, while counter-drone operations were supported by Joint Interagency Task Force 401.

The Pentagon described the push as a move toward faster buying and mass production of cheaper unmanned systems, which it said would reduce reliance on costly traditional weapons.

Owen West, chief executive of Project Agincourt and head of the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager, said the military was "moving at the speed of modern combat" under the direction of Under Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The effort also supports plans for a proposed four-star combatant command, the Autonomous Warfare Command, known as AUTOWARCOM, which is expected to become operational by Oct. 1, 2027.

The Pentagon said deliveries to CENTCOM would continue and that unmanned and autonomous systems would expand to US forces in the Indo-Pacific, Europe and across the wider Joint Force.

Cheap attack drones and interceptors have become a prominent feature of recent conflicts in the Middle East, used by both states and armed groups.

Counter-drone systems are built to detect and bring down incoming unmanned aircraft, a task that has grown in importance for US forces operating in the region.