The Army has identified its unfunded priorities for the 2025 budget, which includes requests for aerial drones, counter-drone tech, and ground robots. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George has prioritized acquiring commercial drones for infantry units, and the Army is hopeful that increased demand will help drive down prices.
There are also plans to allocate funding for the Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO) program, Short Range Reconnaissance, and Medium Range Reconnaissance programs. A significant portion of the budget is set aside for counter-drone capabilities, including funding for Raytheon’s Coyote drone interceptors.
The list also includes funding for the Joint Counter Small Unmanned Systems University for training soldiers in using counter-drone technology. The Army is pushing for more human-machine integration with a focus on robotics, including gun-toting vehicles and experimentation with the Next Generation Combat Vehicle program.
Additional items on the list include funding for the Silent Tactical Energy Dismount (STEED) robot, low earth orbit systems for Army units, Precision Strike Missiles (PRSM), and Patriot Advanced Capability Three (PAC-3) missiles. This initiative aims to equip Army units with cutting-edge technology to enhance their capabilities on the battlefield.
