February 2026 Articles

The Case for Treating Drones as Ammunition

By LTC Zach Griffiths and MAJ Jeff Ivas

This article argues for a fundamental reclassification of small, unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) from serialized equipment to conventional ammunition. The authors contend that the current system of property accountability for drones is a bureaucratic impediment that hinders their effective use in both training and combat. By treating drones as expendable munitions, the military could streamline procurement, distribution, and use, ensuring that these critical assets are readily available in the quantities needed on the modern battlefield. The high attrition rate of sUAS in recent conflicts further strengthens the case for this logistical and doctrinal shift.

Link to the article | More from War on the Rocks

The Future of Army Air Defense in the Indo-Pacific

By MAJ Hazumu Yano

This article proposes a three-part transformation for Army air defense in the Indo-Pacific to address the region's unique challenges.

• Force Structure Changes: A move away from units organized by a single platform (like Patriot or THAAD) and toward composite battalions that can provide a layered and tailored air defense with a mix of capabilities.
• Revised TTPs: Acknowledging that new integrated air and missile defense systems will increase the complexity of defense designs, the author calls for extensive experimentation and training to develop new TTPs that maximize the potential of these modernized capabilities.
• Enhanced Allied and Partner Integration: The article stresses the need to overcome policy and technological barriers to create a regionally integrated air and missile defense architecture, which is crucial for success in a geographically vast and diverse theater.

Link to the article | More from Air Defense Artillery Journal

Forging America’s 21st Century Defense Industrial Base: Applying Lessons from the Arsenal of Democracy to Modern Great-Power Competition

By COL Eric McCoy

The United States must revitalize its defense industrial base by drawing five key lessons from the "Arsenal of Democracy" era of World War II. The author posits that the current defense industrial base is too slow and fragile for modern great-power competition. The proposed solutions are:

• A Coherent National Demand Signal: Government should use multi-year procurement to provide industry with stable and predictable demand.
• Design for Mass Production: The focus should be on producing "good enough" weapons in large quantities, rather than overly complex and expensive systems that are difficult to sustain.
• Embrace "Big Bet" Innovation: The Department of Defense should create empowered innovation vanguards with the funding and risk tolerance to pursue high-reward projects.
• Mobilize the National Talent Base: A national effort is needed to address the looming workforce crisis in the defense industry.
• Integrate Allied Industrial Power: The U.S. should break down bureaucratic barriers to co-development and co-production with its allies.

Link to the article | More from Army Sustainment