U.S. Military Expands One-Way Attack Drone Programs Under New Funding

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that passed Congress in the summer of 2025 provided an instant boost the U.S. defense-industrial base. The reconciliation bill provided the DoW with $152 billion in funding to be used through FY2026.

The Defense Department’s spending priorities with this influx of cash center around shipbuilding, supply chain, missile defense, and munitions.

Munitions are set to see the biggest slice of the defense reconciliation spending, with about $25 billion going towards munitions procurement and development of the supply chain. Inside that munitions realm includes $1 billion earmarked for one-way attack drones. The funds will be given to the Pentagon’s Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG), which coordinates the development and fielding of drones.

OBBBA funding for drones is one of several examples of the U.S. military’s growing focus on one-way attack drones and loitering munitions, and the investment is timely. The U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran that began late February saw the successful debut of the Low- Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drone, a low-cost one-way attack drone that was unveiled just eight months ago.

Conflicts like those in Iran and Ukraine display real-world use cases of this emerging defense technology. This report will break down the programs and initiatives driving the development of one-way attack drones and securing American drone dominance.