On Nov. 4, 2026, the Department of War announced that the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS) has delivered a surge of combat-ready, mass-producible unmanned systems and counter-drone capabilities to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) this year, providing operational commanders with immediate, cost-effective tactical lethality across the theater.
Through an investment of approximately $782 million this year, DRPM-UxS has fielded over 1,300 One-Way Attack (OWA) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to provide precision deep-strike mass, as well as over 100 Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) and Unmanned Underwater Vessels (UUVs) to expand maritime reconnaissance and strike lethality. In addition, more than 24,000 Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) were fielded through its counter unit, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401), establishing a multi-layered defensive shield to protect forward-deployed forces against adversary drone attacks.
The Department highlighted these deliveries as a rapid shift from multi-year developmental pipelines to an agile "Warfighting Acquisition" model, utilizing low-cost, attritable systems as high-volume alternatives to legacy, multi-million-dollar exquisite munitions. Owen West, CEO of Project Agincourt and DRPM-UxS, stated that under Secretary Hegseth's direction, the organization was established to cut through red tape and put lethal technology directly into the hands of frontline troops, adding that the thousands of systems operating across CENTCOM this year are just the beginning of scaling capabilities across the Joint Force.
By scaling commercial production lines and deploying modular software baselines, DRPM-UxS is providing the operational foundation for the Autonomous Warfare Command (AUTOWARCOM), a planned four-star functional combatant command scheduled to stand up by October 1, 2027. Under Secretary Hegseth's direction, DRPM-UxS will maintain continuous deliveries to CENTCOM while rapidly expanding fielding pipelines to Pacific Command, European Command, and the broader Joint Force.
