US Defense Chief Unveils Drone Command, Orders 20% Cut in Generals in ‘State of the Force’ Address

Hegseth announces drone command, 20% cut in US generals and major military overhaul

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a sweeping set of changes to the US military, including a new four-star command focused on drones and autonomous warfare and a 20% reduction in general and flag officer positions.

In his “State of the Force” address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, Hegseth said the Pentagon would also launch a study into the future of warfare involving SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey.

He also announced plans for a new Office of Religious Affairs, the construction of the first new US military base in 40 years and an initiative to make military bases self-powered.

New four-star command for drone warfare

Hegseth said the Pentagon will establish a new four-star command to accelerate the development and deployment of autonomous and robotic military systems.

He described the move as part of the “fastest peacetime shift in modern military history”, acknowledging that advances in warfare are moving faster than the military’s existing systems and processes.

“Ukraine’s lesson is not that one type of drone wins wars, but rather the need for a purpose-built system that maximizes the ability to adapt,” Hegseth said.

The announcement comes as drones have become central to modern warfare. Iran has used relatively inexpensive drones extensively during its conflict with the US, while American forces have drawn lessons from Ukraine’s battlefield experience.

The move follows a recent decision by the US Army to end the drone-warfare mission of a Europe-based unit and return it to conventional infantry duties. Bipartisan lawmakers have sought an explanation for that decision.

Pentagon to cut 20% of senior officer positions

Hegseth said the military services would double the reduction in general and flag officer positions he ordered last spring, bringing the planned cut to 20% of roughly 800 positions.

The reduction is to be completed by January 1, 2027.

“I call it accountability and long overdue,” Hegseth said.

The plan has faced criticism from lawmakers. Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, a former Navy combat pilot, accused Hegseth of “purging a generation of great leaders” and warned that rebuilding the senior ranks could take years.

Republican Senator Mike Rounds said he wanted more details before assessing the move.

“If it’s simply a matter of eliminating a very heavy top, there may be some validity to it, but I want to see it first,” Rounds said.

Musk, Gingrich to help study future warfare

Hegseth also announced a Pentagon initiative to examine how warfare could evolve and what weapons systems the US will need in the coming decades.

Musk, Gingrich and Luckey will help lead the effort, which Hegseth said would focus on “discovering, developing and fielding the weapons and systems that our children and our grandchildren will need in their lifetimes.”

He said the US must be prepared for battlefields ranging “from under the Earth to beyond the moon”.

The initiative comes as the Pentagon increases its focus on space warfare. The US recently confirmed that it had deployed weapons in space, marking a significant development in its military capabilities.

New military base planned

Hegseth said the US will invite all 50 states to compete to host a new military base, which would accommodate between 15,000 and 20,000 service members.

The facility would be the first new US military base built in 40 years.

He also announced plans to make every US military base self-powered as part of a broader effort to strengthen the military’s infrastructure and resilience.