The U.S. Department of Defense is seeking to rapidly expand its stockpile of low-cost attack drones, following the demonstrated battlefield value of small drones in the wars in Ukraine and Iran. Under the Trump administration, a 18-month "drone dominance" competition has been launched, with plans to procure 300,000 essentially low-cost flying bombs through an $11 billion defense contract. The competing companies come from diverse backgrounds—including a firm originally using drones to analyze golf course lawns, another linked to aerial light show companies, and a startup founded by a former world champion in drone racing. The Pentagon believes these enterprises, founded by former hobbyists or individuals without traditional defense industry backgrounds, may represent a part of the future of warfare.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866860560354314/
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