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The Army is expanding the use of artificial intelligence beyond drones. This is as warns that the fight against counter-drone is now the country's “problem 1a” from wearable smart glasses that train field mechanics to automatic defense against a swarm of cheap enemy aircraft.
Talking to reporters this week, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll explained about a pilot program in which soldiers wear Ray-Ban glasses that can be handled, as soldiers record repair jobs and walk through experienced troops through maintenance of infantry squad vehicles using a generative model. He said it reflects a new drive to put consumer technology into force “a lot faster” than it had before. Meta may be spending billions on developing glasses, but the Army is testing them for around $400 per pair.
General Randy George, the Army Chief of Staff, said the same approach applies to the emerging challenges of the Pentagon top: defending drones.
“This is problem 1A we are facing as a country,” Drisco said, emphasizing that counter-drone technology needs to be inexpensive, fast and automated. “If you think of a pack of drones, that's a thought that even humans can't do. [to handle]. ”
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Secretary of Army Dan Driscoll said counter-drone technology is “Problem 1A.” (Spc. LukeSullivan/75th Ranger Regiment)
That challenge is highlighted overseas, where advanced aircraft are used to intercept relatively inexpensive drones. “If you have a $5,000 drone, you need an $2,000 or $3,000 or $4,000 interceptor, and that's what we're paying attention to,” George said.
Last week, Dutch F-35s and Polish F-16s were deployed to remove dozens of Russian drones flying over Russian territory.
George added that while the Army is testing proximity rounds and high-energy lasers, large hurdles protect drones in busy civilian airspace.
As part of the Army's “continuous transformation” initiative, George said 25 brigades will be overhauled over the next two years, making them even more deadly, mobile and viable in a threatening environment. The first armored brigade combat team is scheduled to spin through California's National Training Center this November, followed by a massive exercise in Hawaii.
George also pointed to modernizing the armor, saying that the Army's next-generation M1E3 tank is contemplated as a lighter, faster alternative to Abrams — but could reach the unit as soon as next year. Previous predictions suggested that vehicles would not be in the field until the 2030s, so it marks a major acceleration.
To pay for modernization drives, Driscoll said the Army plans to reinvest in drones, air defense and long-range fires, cutting $48 billion over five years from programs that don't need it.
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The soldier holds a drone in the Pentagon parking lot in Arlington, Virginia, June 14, 2025. (Samuel Column/Getty Images)
The service also launched a $750 million “Fughes” fund to support small and medium-sized businesses, and previewed the in-depth new acquisition reforms at the AUSA meeting next month. This change, which partially modeled the commercial company's rapid iteration practices, will allow soldiers, engineers and contractors to co-resident to speed up design and fielding.
Authorities also highlighted internal efforts. George said he is building his own drone at a depot with parts from across the country, including models already flying in Ukraine, to help the Army replenish its stockpile. Driscoll said 3D printing has been tested as a way to overcome the “demnation of distance” in the Indo-Pacific, allowing soldiers to produce parts in theaters rather than wait on long supply lines.
Army soldiers train on-site as services integrate AI into training and command and control. (Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)
George pointed out Battlefield Command as another area of change. The 4th Infantry Division is currently testing its command and control apps on a sturdy tablet. This replaces the truck and rack of the radio that holds the Army Command long.
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The move is designed to make it difficult to target the headquarters smaller, but external experts warn that relying on commercial-style devices can introduce new cyber vulnerabilities and durability issues into combat.
Driscoll also believed that President Trump supported an Army overhaul. “They kept the line every time we made tough decisions,” he said. Still, he acknowledged that each of the $48 billion has a defence of Congress and industry.
