November 9, 2025:
Until 2014 there were no American Ukraine-style military combat drones. But in that year, as part of the U.S. military support of Ukraine, American companies began manufacturing drones based on Ukrainian designs. Skydio, a US company, ships more than 100,000 autonomous, military, consumer and commercial drones a year, making it a significant player in the US market.
The Army has been trying, with some success, to make training to use FPV/First Person View drones a standard part of soldier training this year. In 2026 all units that can use drones will be able to get them through the army supply channel. Since 2022, soldiers and units have been informally obtaining drones so they can learn how to use them. This include live fire exercises where troops use drones in simulated combat operations, including finding hidden targets and destroying them with FPV drones. In this respect, the War Department is catching up.
Meanwhile Ukraine will produce over 2.5 million drones this year. In 2024 1.5 million were manufactured in Ukraine. Ukraine has about 30 secret sites where drones are made. In addition there are hundreds of amateurs who manufacture them for family members in the military or to support local men who are off fighting the Russians. Late last year China stopped selling drone components to Ukraine. This was done to assist their ally Russia. The Ukrainian s quickly found other sources in Europe and the United States. These firms will increase their production and this will do long term damage to Chinese and Russian component and drone manufacturers.
The army marines and SOCOM/Special Operations Command have obtained drones for training and are getting advice from Ukrainians who have and in some cases are still using drones in combat. This year the army established an FPV operators course. In addition there is the three week long Advanced Lethality Course that teaches ways to increase FPV drone operating skills as well as how to use a 3-D printer to manufacture drone components in the combat zone. This is an extension of a process that has been in use for decades where 3-D printers and similar devices are used to make needed components for weapons and equipment.