Hegseth signs flying memo to expand military use of cheap drones in oddball video
(2025/07/11)
- Reference: 1752267927
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/07/11/hegseth_signs_flying_memo_to/
- Source link:
video Flanked by a pair of buzzing drones that threatened to drown out his voice, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reached up to grab a memorandum hung from a third drone hovering above his head.
Hegseth stumbled his way through the moment, breaking off mid-sentence when he did that. But by signing the [1]document [PDF] - which contained no formal signature field, mind you - the SecDef ushered in a new era of "US military drone dominance," according to his [2]post on X with accompanying video, including music from Metallica that was [3]surely licensed.
Look at the one-page brief Hegseth signed, and you won't get much beyond the three points he discusses in the video, namely that the DoD wants to "bolster the nascent US drone manufacturing base" by approving new US-made products for military usage, arm military combat units "with a variety of low-cost drones," and plans to incorporate drones into training, "including force-on-force drone wars." There's more to the memo, but it was closed off from public sight, and the DoD didn't respond to our request for a full look.
[4]
[5]Youtube Video
[6]
[7]
The US military's usual drones are known to be a bit more heavy-duty than, say, an off-the-shelf quadcopter, but the memo suggests Hegseth wants to acquire just that type of low-cost and lightweight flyer.
"Drones are the biggest battlefield innovation in a generation, accounting for most of this year's casualties in Ukraine," Hegseth wrote in the drone-delivered one-pager. "Our adversaries collectively produce millions of cheap drones each year." Those cheap drones - laden with explosives and an FPV camera - have done remarkable damage in Ukraine, becoming the [8]new face of warfare and a likely game changer in future conflicts. None of that required an [9]MQ-9A Reaper drone - just some DJI and a dream not to die rushing enemy fortifications.
[10]
The full memo, which some other defense-related publications have seen, had a bit more info.
DefenseScoop [11]reports the memo calls for military branches to come up with a list of programs that would be cheaper or more lethal if done with drones, find some spare DoD land to use as a trio of drone training ranges, and see that every squad is equipped with cheap, expendable UAVs by the end of next year.
In addition, Hegseth [12]reportedly loosened restrictions on where a government purchase card can be used to buy drones, and rescinded an order prohibiting the acquisition of drones manufactured by certain foreign countries.
[13]America and Britain gear up with Project Flytrap to bring anti-drone kit to the battlefield
[14]Military-tech upstart Anduril pushes further into NATO with German arms maker deal
[15]No, really, please ban Chinese DJI drones from America's skies, senators are urged
[16]White House attempts to 'explain' mystery drone sightings: The FAA authorized 'em
Hegseth noted he was seeking to "go above and beyond" President Trump's June [17]executive order on integrating drones into various government programs with the new drone demands.
One of the matters for Hegseth's department in Trump's June EO was to update regularly the Defense Innovation Unit's Blue Unmanned Aerial Systems [18]list , which serves as a record of which commercial drones are cleared for military usability. It's likely the promise to approve more drones for military usage will involve adding new entries to the Blue list, in other words.
[19]
The DoD declined to comment on the matter, including as to whether that use of Enter Sandman was approved by Metallica. ®
Get our [20]Tech Resources
[1] https://media.defense.gov/2025/Jul/10/2003752117/-1/-1/1/UNLEASHING-U.S.-MILITARY-DRONE-DOMINANCE.PDF
[2] https://x.com/SecDef/status/1943748870993064004
[3] https://www.billboard.com/lists/musicians-slam-donald-trump-music-campaign/
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aHGJfRDJ-W9vbNGDMRoS7QAAAdg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJxD-Bjqk3w
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aHGJfRDJ-W9vbNGDMRoS7QAAAdg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aHGJfRDJ-W9vbNGDMRoS7QAAAdg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/30/google_ceo_tank_ai_drones/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2023/07/21/us_air_force_angry_kitten/
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aHGJfRDJ-W9vbNGDMRoS7QAAAdg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://defensescoop.com/2025/07/10/hegseth-memo-unleashing-us-military-drone-dominance-deadlines/
[12] https://breakingdefense.com/2025/07/hegseth-signs-unleashing-us-military-drone-dominance-memo/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/23/us_army_drones/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/18/anduril_rheinmetall_drones/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/26/us_senate_dji_drone/
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/29/white_house_explains_drone_sighting/
[17] https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/11/2025-10814/unleashing-american-drone-dominance
[18] https://www.diu.mil/blue-uas-cleared-list
[19] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aHGJfRDJ-W9vbNGDMRoS7QAAAdg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[20] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Hegseth stumbled his way through the moment, breaking off mid-sentence when he did that. But by signing the [1]document [PDF] - which contained no formal signature field, mind you - the SecDef ushered in a new era of "US military drone dominance," according to his [2]post on X with accompanying video, including music from Metallica that was [3]surely licensed.
Look at the one-page brief Hegseth signed, and you won't get much beyond the three points he discusses in the video, namely that the DoD wants to "bolster the nascent US drone manufacturing base" by approving new US-made products for military usage, arm military combat units "with a variety of low-cost drones," and plans to incorporate drones into training, "including force-on-force drone wars." There's more to the memo, but it was closed off from public sight, and the DoD didn't respond to our request for a full look.
[4]
[5]Youtube Video
[6]
[7]
The US military's usual drones are known to be a bit more heavy-duty than, say, an off-the-shelf quadcopter, but the memo suggests Hegseth wants to acquire just that type of low-cost and lightweight flyer.
"Drones are the biggest battlefield innovation in a generation, accounting for most of this year's casualties in Ukraine," Hegseth wrote in the drone-delivered one-pager. "Our adversaries collectively produce millions of cheap drones each year." Those cheap drones - laden with explosives and an FPV camera - have done remarkable damage in Ukraine, becoming the [8]new face of warfare and a likely game changer in future conflicts. None of that required an [9]MQ-9A Reaper drone - just some DJI and a dream not to die rushing enemy fortifications.
[10]
The full memo, which some other defense-related publications have seen, had a bit more info.
DefenseScoop [11]reports the memo calls for military branches to come up with a list of programs that would be cheaper or more lethal if done with drones, find some spare DoD land to use as a trio of drone training ranges, and see that every squad is equipped with cheap, expendable UAVs by the end of next year.
In addition, Hegseth [12]reportedly loosened restrictions on where a government purchase card can be used to buy drones, and rescinded an order prohibiting the acquisition of drones manufactured by certain foreign countries.
[13]America and Britain gear up with Project Flytrap to bring anti-drone kit to the battlefield
[14]Military-tech upstart Anduril pushes further into NATO with German arms maker deal
[15]No, really, please ban Chinese DJI drones from America's skies, senators are urged
[16]White House attempts to 'explain' mystery drone sightings: The FAA authorized 'em
Hegseth noted he was seeking to "go above and beyond" President Trump's June [17]executive order on integrating drones into various government programs with the new drone demands.
One of the matters for Hegseth's department in Trump's June EO was to update regularly the Defense Innovation Unit's Blue Unmanned Aerial Systems [18]list , which serves as a record of which commercial drones are cleared for military usability. It's likely the promise to approve more drones for military usage will involve adding new entries to the Blue list, in other words.
[19]
The DoD declined to comment on the matter, including as to whether that use of Enter Sandman was approved by Metallica. ®
Get our [20]Tech Resources
[1] https://media.defense.gov/2025/Jul/10/2003752117/-1/-1/1/UNLEASHING-U.S.-MILITARY-DRONE-DOMINANCE.PDF
[2] https://x.com/SecDef/status/1943748870993064004
[3] https://www.billboard.com/lists/musicians-slam-donald-trump-music-campaign/
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aHGJfRDJ-W9vbNGDMRoS7QAAAdg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJxD-Bjqk3w
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aHGJfRDJ-W9vbNGDMRoS7QAAAdg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aHGJfRDJ-W9vbNGDMRoS7QAAAdg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/30/google_ceo_tank_ai_drones/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2023/07/21/us_air_force_angry_kitten/
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aHGJfRDJ-W9vbNGDMRoS7QAAAdg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://defensescoop.com/2025/07/10/hegseth-memo-unleashing-us-military-drone-dominance-deadlines/
[12] https://breakingdefense.com/2025/07/hegseth-signs-unleashing-us-military-drone-dominance-memo/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/23/us_army_drones/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/18/anduril_rheinmetall_drones/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/26/us_senate_dji_drone/
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/29/white_house_explains_drone_sighting/
[17] https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/11/2025-10814/unleashing-american-drone-dominance
[18] https://www.diu.mil/blue-uas-cleared-list
[19] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aHGJfRDJ-W9vbNGDMRoS7QAAAdg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[20] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Gene Cash
Yeah, I don't know what's up with the retarded AF theatre in that video, but it's true that Ukraine and Russia are going at each other hammer-and-tongs using drones. Both sides have discovered they're excellent weapons.
The US military has pretty much ignored small hobby-size drones and laughed off their use as weapons. Hopefully this means they're waking up to the 21st century.
If you've followed the war there at all, you'll know drones have been as much use as tanks, missiles, and artillery pieces, if not more.
The Ukrainians have even snuck drones through open windows to destroy tanks and kill troops. That's pretty novel and game-changing.
Anonymous Coward
I've just lost a contract gig for checking my emails and messages from family on the phone while my peers openly giggled over gun pics on their phones together and discussed plans to start a fight at a strip club over a favored dancer and fought over the shared office playlist on the clock.
What makes this more pathetic? They were all older than me and permanent employees. Also all "more educated."
So it seems everything is just in terminal decline.
manufactured by certain foreign countries
Gene Cash
> rescinded an order prohibiting the acquisition of drones manufactured by certain foreign countries
So, um.... they're planning on using Chinese drones to attack China? Sure, I don't see a problem with that!
Ah, right, yes, OK
Look guys, I do know that the vast, vast majority of you on the west side of the pond are not stupid and can recognise BS when you see it.
But seriously…..?