Trump’s drone directives win US industry support but questions remain over ability to challenge Chinese market dominance
Demonstration of a swarm of UAS at Fort Huachuca. (Photo: US Army)
New presidential directives for UAV production are intended to remove bureaucratic barriers and support suppliers.
Reducing regulatory barriers, enhancing the production and export of advanced drones and counter-UAS (CUAS) capabilities, and prioritising US-made UAVs are among the main goals of two Executive Orders (EOs) issued by the Trump administration last week.
Although the implementation of those presidential directives left a number of unanswered questions, the EOs were welcomed by US-based drone suppliers who spoke to Shephard.
“We understand that this administration and the Pentagon realise how important drones are to warfare and is going to look at ways to make sure companies have the resources to build drones,” remarked Jeff Thompson, CEO unmanned platforms manufacturer RedCat.
Matt McCrann,
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Air Warfare
-
![AUSA 2025: Boeing and Leonardo partner to pursue US Army rotary training contract]()
AUSA 2025: Boeing and Leonardo partner to pursue US Army rotary training contract
Leonardo’s AW119T helicopter will be offered as a solution for the Flight School Next contract, an initiative which aims to overhaul the US Army’s Initial Entry Rotary Wing training.
-
![AUSA 2025: IAI presents its bid for US Army’s next-generation VTOL UAS requirement]()
AUSA 2025: IAI presents its bid for US Army’s next-generation VTOL UAS requirement
The OmniRaider uncrewed aerial system is described by Israel Aerospace Industries as an “Americanised” version of its ThunderB-NG vertical take-off and landing UAS of which there are hundreds in service.
-
![AUSA 2025: Lockheed Martin conducts first ground-based demo of JAGM Quad Launcher]()
AUSA 2025: Lockheed Martin conducts first ground-based demo of JAGM Quad Launcher
The first live-fire demonstration of the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile Quad Launcher was tested against a ground vehicle, with further tests against a UAS target planned for the system next month.
-
![AUSA 2025: Sikorsky’s uncrewed Black Hawk to fly next year]()
AUSA 2025: Sikorsky’s uncrewed Black Hawk to fly next year
The uncrewed UH-60L Black Hawk or U-Hawk is built around the company’s Matrix autonomy technology and, after less than a year of development, is expected to fly in 2026.
