Unraveling The Galactic Enigma: Scientists Close In On Mysterious Force Surrounding Supermassive Black Hole
The Quest for a Mysterious Force: Unveiling the Secrets of Our Galaxy’s Supermassive Black …
28. July 2025
Us Drone Test Ends In Chaos As Alaska Mishaps Expose Unmet Technological Hurdles
The US military’s recent test of small, long-range attack drones at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, was less a triumph and more a lesson in humility. The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the Pentagon’s tech trailblazers, teamed up with four companies to trial drones built to strike targets despite enemy jamming. Sounds like the kind of mission your Mavic 3 could nail with a firmware update, right? Not quite.
One drone missed its target and smashed into a hill, while another overshot and went up in flames. The culprit? Electronic warfare (EW) jamming scrambled the drones’ navigation, turning them into expensive lawn darts. Trent Emeneker, a DIU official, told Defense News it’s too early to write off the effort, but admitted the results were “not what I would have hoped for.”
The Alaska tests, part of the DIU’s Artemis project, aimed to prove small, long-range attack drones could outsmart jamming. Instead, they highlighted how far the US lags behind in the drone race. Artemis, spun up with $16 million from a Ukraine aid package, moved fast by Pentagon standards, selecting four companies in seven months.
However, the services are hesitant to adopt the technology due to each wanting drones tailored to their exact needs, like picky customers at a custom drone shop. Emeneker’s been pitching Artemis for a year, but the Army, Navy, and Air Force keep dragging their feet. It’s the “valley of death”—where promising tech dies in a swamp of bureaucracy.
The Pentagon has launched Blue UAS, an effort to make drone-buying as easy as grabbing a new controller. Launched in 2020, it’s a list of vetted, non-Chinese drones that troops can purchase without jumping through hoops. Chris Bonzagni, a former DIU official, said the goal was to let a staff sergeant in the field buy a drone like it’s a new lens for their camera.
But endless compliance checks—every software update needs a security audit—turned Blue UAS into a bureaucratic quagmire. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s July 10 memo demands drone units by September and less red tape. However, the Alaska flop shows the US is still stuck in first gear while adversaries like China, with their Y-20 drone-dropping plane, are flooring it.
The Pentagon wants “drone dominance” by 2027, but right now, it’s more “drone disaster.” For those tweaking their DJI Mavic 3 Pro in the garage, this story hits close to home. The tech that makes your drone dodge trees is miles ahead of what crashed in Alaska.
This incident serves as a reality check for #DronesForGood. Drones can save lives, gather intel, and keep troops safe—if the Pentagon can get out of its own way. Imagine US drones swarming like a fleet of angry Phantoms, protecting allies without risking pilots. That’s the goal, but it’s drowning in paperwork.
The Pentagon’s obsession with banning Chinese components slows things down. Companies like Neros want to hit 10,000 Archer drones per month by year’s end, but without buyers, it’s like building the ultimate drone and leaving it on the shelf. Your local drone club would’ve crowdfunded it by now.
Hegseth’s memo pushes for active-duty drone units and streamlined buying processes, with the Defense Contract Management Agency possibly stepping in to scale Blue UAS. The Alaska data is being studied to fix the jamming woes, but time’s ticking. With adversaries fielding advanced drones, the US needs to move faster than a Mavic 4 in Sport Mode.
The Artemis project isn’t dead—it’s a learning curve. However, the Pentagon must stop treating drones like they’re buying a new battleship. For now, keep flying your DJI rigs and check DroneXL.co for updates. This Alaska flop is a reminder: your backyard drone is already a star, even if the Pentagon’s still figuring it out.
The US drone struggles highlight the importance of streamlining processes and adopting cutting-edge technology to stay ahead in the drone race. With adversaries rapidly advancing their capabilities, the US military must accelerate its efforts to develop and deploy effective drones that can outsmart jamming and protect troops safely.