Pentagon acknowledges domestic drone output remains below Ukraine levels as US firms reduce reliance on Chinese parts.
The US military drone industry is still in its early stages, with production rates trailing those of Ukraine despite efforts to accelerate manufacturing. Washington is pushing defense contractors to eliminate Chinese components from supply chains, but progress remains slow, according to officials.
Ukraine has outpaced the US in drone production, leveraging a more agile and less regulated domestic industry. The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit has highlighted the gap as a strategic concern, though no specific output figures were disclosed.
The shift away from Chinese suppliers aims to address national security risks but has introduced delays in scaling up US production capacity. Market analysts note the transition could pressure defense stocks in the near term.