The US Army buys 50,000 drones a year, set to increase in 2027 to 340,000. Sounds like a lot? Yeah, but Ukraine is producing and launching 4 million a year. Meanwhile, an Iranian missile landing on a Gulf air base destroyed a $300 million E-3 Sentry early-warning aircraft. America can afford it? Well, maybe, but it was one of a US fleet of just 16 such aircraft, now down to 15.
Max Hastings is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He covers a range of topics including business and economics, publishing and media, as well as aviation and aerospace, with a particular interest in drone technology and authorship. His work has been featured in notable publications such as The Washington Post, The Australian Financial Review, and The Spectator, among others.