Drones on a Shoestring: The Pentagon's Cost Conscious Conundrum The US military's reliance on high tech, high cost drones has been dealt a significant blow.
Dozens of Reapers have been destroyed in Iranian skies, resulting in over $1 billion worth of lost hardware. This development marks the end of an era for expensive, bespoke drones.
The Defense Innovation Unit recently issued a call for industry pitches that suggests a shift away from investing in single, high end platforms like the Reaper. These drones can cost upwards of $30 million each.