The US military’s budget request for the next fiscal year includes an unprecedented investment in drone warfare and counter-drone technology. The Pentagon is asking for $53.6 billion to boost production and procurement of drones, train operators and build out a logistics network. This spending rivals that of entire countries’ defense budgets.

Specifically, $20.6 billion will be allocated towards one-way attack drones and drone aircraft, with part of the funding going toward defensive systems for countering small drones and the US Navy’s Boeing MQ-25 drone designed to perform mid-air refueling for carrier-borne fighter jets.

Pentagon officials say this investment is crucial as they test different autonomy systems and tools. Jules Hurst, a senior Pentagon official, highlighted that the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG) will continue to find and integrate the best drone technologies.

Such spending even rivals the entire budget of the US Marine Corps, making it clear just how much emphasis is being placed on drones in military operations. However, the Pentagon has not indicated any plans for a dedicated drone branch similar to the Space Force.