WASHINGTON (Realist English). The U.S. Department of Defense has launched an ambitious new program designed to dramatically speed up the development and deployment of battlefield drones by embedding direct feedback from frontline soldiers into the innovation cycle.
Unveiled this week by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Project GI seeks to replicate Ukraine’s agile wartime drone adaptation, where local engineers working near combat zones rapidly implement changes based on evolving enemy tactics — particularly Russian electronic warfare.
“We want to start trying to solve the problem in 24 hours,” said Trent Emeneker, head of DIU’s Blue UAS program. He criticized the Pentagon’s traditional pace, noting that even “rushed” efforts often take five years just to reach the prototype stage.
Project GI introduces a rolling submission model for drone proposals, open through December 31, and envisions a permanent loop of design, field testing, operator feedback, and real-time iteration — a break from the rigid, years-long acquisition cycles that currently dominate U.S. defense procurement.
One of the model cases behind the initiative comes from Shield AI, a U.S. drone firm whose engineers embedded with Ukrainian units last year to counter Russian GPS jamming. Within 24 hours, the company developed and deployed a software fix that helped restore targeting capabilities.
“This is the speed of modern warfare,” said Brandon Tseng, co-founder of Shield AI, speaking ahead of the 2025 GLOBSEC Forum in Prague. “You need to be physically near the problem to respond in real time.”
Beyond the software challenge, Emeneker highlighted structural vulnerabilities — including U.S. dependence on Chinese-made drone components such as actuators and optical lenses. Even with an aggressive reshoring push, he warned, scalable domestic production would take at least 12 to 15 months to mature.
The launch of Project GI signals a strategic recognition in Washington: future warfare, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, will reward those who can adapt technology as fast as the enemy evolves. If successful, the initiative could reduce drone development cycles from years to weeks — and redefine how the U.S. military stays relevant in high-tech conflict environments.