In 'State of the Force' Speech, Hegseth Announces Drone Command, 20% Cut to Generals
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced major changes to the US military on Wednesday in what he called his 'State of the Force' address, including establishing a new drone command and cutting 20% of the nation's generals and admirals.
The speech was delivered at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia to junior officers and enlisted leaders — the second year in a row that Mr. Hegseth has given such an address. But this time, the US military is seven months into a war with Iran, has captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and has killed more than 200 people in strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in Latin America.
Mr. Hegseth again led with how he has drastically retooled the US military by targeting what he calls 'woke' culture — through a rollback of diversity programmes, a review of ground combat units with female troops, and a new screening programme for 'testosterone deficiency' among male personnel.
The Pentagon chief announced the creation of a new four-star command to oversee the rollout of autonomous and robotic capabilities in what he called 'the fastest peacetime shift in modern military history.' He acknowledged that 'the pace of war is changing faster than the process to support it.' Iran commonly uses cheap drones, including those that have killed US troops during the seven-month war. Mr. Hegseth pointed to Ukraine's pioneering use of drones to combat Russian forces — something American forces have learned from firsthand.
'Ukraine's lesson is not that one type of drone wins wars, but rather the need for a purpose-built system that maximises the ability to adapt,' Mr. Hegseth said.
However, a US Army unit based in Europe that specialised in drone warfare was ordered recently to end its efforts and return to being a traditional infantry battalion. A bipartisan group of US lawmakers subsequently asked the Army to explain the order, given that the world's battlefields are rapidly evolving and military tactics increasingly rely on uncrewed systems to fight.
The new drone command comes as the US is in a stalemate with Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy shipping corridor. The war has forced American forces in the region to expend hundreds of expensive missile interceptors to defend against Iran's missile and drone attacks, which have still managed to kill and wound US troops.
Mr. Hegseth repeated claims that the US military has destroyed Iran's navy, air force and defence systems, as well as many of its leaders and its industrial base. But Tehran has continued to launch intermittent drone and missile attacks against US or allied bases, while maintaining its ability to strike commercial and military ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
He also announced that the Pentagon will launch an effort to study the future of warfare, led in part by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The Defence Department will create an Office of Religious Affairs and plans to build a new base for the first time in 40 years, he added.
During his speech, Mr. Hegseth touted the Trump administration's major investments in the defence industry and push for contractors to speed up their work to expand the nation's weapons arsenals. But experts say US military contractors will need at least three years to replenish stockpiles of key weapons systems used heavily in the Iran war.
Mr. Hegseth said he directed the military services to double a previously announced 10% reduction in general and flag officers, bringing the total cut to 20%. The speech is not a usual fixture among Pentagon leaders, who have traditionally addressed troops and top officers in small or private settings.
