DIB Reviews Military Drone Challenges

The Defense Innovation Board has held a closed-door meeting to discuss the challenges impacting military drones, as confirmed by DIB members Michael Mullen and Charles Phillips.

The discussion identified critical shortcomings in current uncrewed systems, including high costs, susceptibility to electronic warfare disruption and subpar battlefield performance, DefenseScoop reported.

Michael Bloomberg, who leads the board, said the failure of U.S.-made drones deployed in Ukraine foregrounds the need to recalibrate strategies to develop more affordable and effective systems and expand production capacity.

Phillips, a technology investment executive, echoed the necessity to scale up drone production to meet high demands and to ensure that the systems are redesigned to address vulnerability issues.

Moreover, the board also discussed needed improvements to provide drone companies easier access to partnerships with the Department of Defense and its components, according to Mullen, who is formerly chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Bloomberg said the board anticipates conducting potential new studies to further evaluate and address drone production issues.