The concept of creating a specialized drone branch within the US Army has hit turbulence, facing significant opposition from military brass.
As Congressional proposals to establish a dedicated drone branch have emerged, key Army figures have expressed their dissent, viewing the move as unnecessary and potentially disruptive to the current structure and future strategy of military operations.
Army Chief of Staff Randy George voiced his concerns before the Senate Appropriations Committee, emphasizing the need for flexibility rather than segregation. “We see [drones] as integrated into our formation, not some separate piece. And I think we need that kind of flexibility,” George stated.
His standpoint aligns with the belief that drones should be an integral part of varied Army formations rather than an independent entity. This perspective highlights the Army’s focus on versatility and adaptability in utilizing unmanned systems.
Service Under Secretary Gabe Camarillo echoed this sentiment, suggesting that it’s premature to specialize a branch exclusively for drones.
During an event hosted by the think tank CNAS, Camarillo pointed out that the Army needs to experiment with drones across different units to establish optimal usage practices. This experimentation is crucial to understand how drones can enhance battlefield effects and integrate seamlessly with traditional operations.
The proposal for a drone branch was included in the 2025 defense authorization bill by the House’s tactical and land forces subcommittee, envisioning drones as peers to the Army’s existing 22 branches, such as artillery and armor.
A senior Army officer would lead the proposed branch, overseeing training, force modernization, and counter-drone activities. Despite the Army’s resistance, a congressional staffer, while acknowledging the opposition, expressed confidence that the plan would be adopted.
In contrast, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth and Camarillo have advocated for increased investments in drones and counter-drone capabilities. “Gen. George and I both believe that we need to invest more in counter [drone] capabilities,” Wormuth said, reinforcing the Army’s commitment to enhancing its unmanned systems and defenses.
Camarillo emphasized the focus on counter-UAS investment in the upcoming fiscal year 26 budget, further indicating the leadership’s priority to strengthen drone capabilities.
The discussion around a separate drone branch gains context when looking at the international landscape. Ukrainian drone operators have leveraged drones for coordinating artillery fire, crucial to offensive operations, and announced their own drone branch formation. German parliamentarians have also shown support for a similar branch.
Despite these developments, US Army leaders maintain their stance against a segregated drone branch while supporting broader investments in drone technology.
Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, believes drones have been mostly seen as surveillance elements within troop formations. However, he suggests rethinking their role as akin to artillery, a sentiment that aligns with the need for professionalization of drone usage within the Army’s ranks.
The Army’s strategy currently involves a joint approach to counter small unmanned aircraft systems, with a dedicated office and a university at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, focusing on these endeavors. Moreover, the Army is actively seeking ways to incorporate new commercial off-the-shelf drone capabilities and is rebalancing its aerial drone portfolio. Such efforts aim to synchronize the technological pace with the Army’s operational needs, potentially rendering the idea of a separate drone branch less appealing.
As the Army leadership stands united against a specialized drone branch, they continue to prioritize the integration of drones into their diverse units. This approach seeks to maintain a comprehensive and flexible military force ready to adapt to the evolving nature of warfare, where unmanned systems play an increasingly significant role.
Relevant articles:
– Army brass opposes drone branch, Defense One
– Army leader dismisses House proposal for drone branch creation, Breaking Defense
– Drone corps proposal would disrupt US Army plans, says undersecretary, C4ISRNet
– House lawmakers want to create Army drone branch, Federal News Network