The Future of Military Drone Operations: National Drone Wars™ Announced
In a groundbreaking move that promises to redefine military drone operations, the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)) and the United States National Drone Association (USNDA) have announced the transition of the 'Top Drone™' program to the USNDA. This program is now set to take center stage in the National Drone Wars™, a competitive arena designed to identify the most skilled drone operators within the armed forces.
According to Mr. Owen West, Director of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the initiative is part of a broader strategy to bolster the American Drone Industrial Base. "Competition has, is, and always will be the best mechanism to identify American top talent and drive innovation for fire teams now capable of striking beyond the limits of what we used to call division battle space," he stated.
The inaugural event of the Top Drone program took place during the OUSW(R&E)’s Technology Readiness Experimentation event (T-REX 25-2) in August 2025. Moving forward, this initiative will evolve into a continuous interservice competition. This transition aligns with Executive Order 14307, dubbed "Unleashing American Drone Dominance," as well as the directive from the Secretary of War to integrate drone capabilities into all relevant combat training scenarios.
The National Drone Wars™ will pit various drone teams against each other in dynamic, scenario-based missions. These challenges are tailored to push military operators to their limits across multi-domain environments while engaging in both offensive and defensive operations. The ultimate goal is to crown the best in the field, recognized as one of the military’s Top Drone Operators.
The competition will include operators from three distinct groups: 1) Service Academies (such as the U.S. Naval Academy and West Point); 2) Conventional Forces (like the Army and Marine Corps); and 3) Special Operations (including elite units such as Army Rangers and Naval Special Warfare). Under Secretary Emil Michael emphasized that achieving drone dominance is not solely about enhancing firepower but also about developing exceptional operators who can execute complex missions.
“It is essential that our operators can navigate challenging operational landscapes with speed and agility,” said COL Matthew Limeberry, Director of T-REX. The competition's aim is to evaluate operator fluency, ensuring they are adept in rapidly changing war environments.
The criteria for the competition will be established by an interservice operator-led Warfighter Advisory Group, which will be governed by the USNDA. Nathan Ecelbarger, President of USNDA, remarked, “War has always been the most transparent baseline of warfighter readiness; competition serves as the second most transparent baseline.” He suggests that historical military competitions have consistently helped identify gaps in talent and capability that need to be addressed.
Operators will have the opportunity to utilize platforms from both the Drone Dominance and Swarm Forge Programs. Additionally, they will have access to toolsets from the USNDA Joint Arms Room, which is stocked with contributions from industry and academic partners. This resource allows operators to fully engage in a series of missions leveraging unmanned capabilities.
The first overseas Drone Crucible is scheduled to occur in Germany in November, welcoming participation from Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SOF) drone teams and other NATO allies. Furthermore, the USNDA Top Drone National Drone Wars™ championship is set to take place at a yet undisclosed location on U.S. soil in the first quarter of 2027.
Details regarding qualification, entry standards, and registration for warfighters will be made available in October 2026 on the Drone Dominance Program's official website. This initiative not only aims to enhance military readiness but also seeks to inspire a new era of drone warfare, where competition drives innovation and excellence. Interested operators and organizations can express their interest by reaching out via the designated contact channel provided in the initial announcement.
According to Mr. Owen West, Director of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the initiative is part of a broader strategy to bolster the American Drone Industrial Base. "Competition has, is, and always will be the best mechanism to identify American top talent and drive innovation for fire teams now capable of striking beyond the limits of what we used to call division battle space," he stated.
The inaugural event of the Top Drone program took place during the OUSW(R&E)’s Technology Readiness Experimentation event (T-REX 25-2) in August 2025. Moving forward, this initiative will evolve into a continuous interservice competition. This transition aligns with Executive Order 14307, dubbed "Unleashing American Drone Dominance," as well as the directive from the Secretary of War to integrate drone capabilities into all relevant combat training scenarios.
The National Drone Wars™ will pit various drone teams against each other in dynamic, scenario-based missions. These challenges are tailored to push military operators to their limits across multi-domain environments while engaging in both offensive and defensive operations. The ultimate goal is to crown the best in the field, recognized as one of the military’s Top Drone Operators.
The competition will include operators from three distinct groups: 1) Service Academies (such as the U.S. Naval Academy and West Point); 2) Conventional Forces (like the Army and Marine Corps); and 3) Special Operations (including elite units such as Army Rangers and Naval Special Warfare). Under Secretary Emil Michael emphasized that achieving drone dominance is not solely about enhancing firepower but also about developing exceptional operators who can execute complex missions.
“It is essential that our operators can navigate challenging operational landscapes with speed and agility,” said COL Matthew Limeberry, Director of T-REX. The competition's aim is to evaluate operator fluency, ensuring they are adept in rapidly changing war environments.
The criteria for the competition will be established by an interservice operator-led Warfighter Advisory Group, which will be governed by the USNDA. Nathan Ecelbarger, President of USNDA, remarked, “War has always been the most transparent baseline of warfighter readiness; competition serves as the second most transparent baseline.” He suggests that historical military competitions have consistently helped identify gaps in talent and capability that need to be addressed.
Operators will have the opportunity to utilize platforms from both the Drone Dominance and Swarm Forge Programs. Additionally, they will have access to toolsets from the USNDA Joint Arms Room, which is stocked with contributions from industry and academic partners. This resource allows operators to fully engage in a series of missions leveraging unmanned capabilities.
The first overseas Drone Crucible is scheduled to occur in Germany in November, welcoming participation from Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SOF) drone teams and other NATO allies. Furthermore, the USNDA Top Drone National Drone Wars™ championship is set to take place at a yet undisclosed location on U.S. soil in the first quarter of 2027.
Details regarding qualification, entry standards, and registration for warfighters will be made available in October 2026 on the Drone Dominance Program's official website. This initiative not only aims to enhance military readiness but also seeks to inspire a new era of drone warfare, where competition drives innovation and excellence. Interested operators and organizations can express their interest by reaching out via the designated contact channel provided in the initial announcement.
Topics Other）
【About Using Articles】
You can freely use the title and article content by linking to the page where the article is posted.
※ Images cannot be used.
【About Links】
Links are free to use.