Pentagon adopts classified strategy to counter drones
Photo: Patrick Ryder (Getty Images)
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has approved a secret strategy to counter unmanned systems. Drone threats are changing the way wars are fought, Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder reports at a briefing.
As Ryder noted, throughout his office term, Secretary Austin has prioritized developing and rapidly deploying capabilities to counter the immediate threat posed by unmanned systems.
"This week, the Secretary signed a classified strategy for countering unmanned systems to unify the department's approach to countering these systems, which looks across domains, characteristics, and time frames," said Ryder.
Pentagon spokesperson also pointed out that drones can pose a threat to US personnel and facilities abroad and, increasingly, within the US territories.
"As you know, the threats presented by these systems are changing how wars are fought. With a singular strategy for countering unmanned systems, in conjunction with other major DOD (US Department of Defense - ed.) initiatives like the Joint Counter Small UAS Office and Replicator 2, the DOD is orienting around a common understanding of the challenge and a comprehensive approach to addressing it," added Ryder.
As reported earlier, according to UK intelligence, the main factor changing the nature of the Russo-Ukrainian war was the use of UAVs.
Ukraine has successfully used UAVs against military targets in Russia. In mid- and late-September, Ukraine struck four Russian strategic ammunition depots hundreds of kilometers away from Ukrainian territory. The total tonnage of ammunition destroyed at these sites is the largest loss of Russian and North Korean munitions during the war.
