Rep. Bacon and 14 Bipartisan Colleagues in Letter to Sec Def on Ukraine Unmanned Aerial Systems

WASHINGTON – Last Friday, Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Donald G. Davis (D-NC), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Pat Harrigan (R-NC), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), Donald  Norcross (D-NJ), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Eugene Simon Vindman (D-VA), Eric Sorensen (D-IL) and Joe Wilson (R-SC) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth requesting clarification on “existing authorities and appropriations provided to respond to the situation in Ukraine allow for U.S.–Ukraine collaboration, not only in the co-production of tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems and other unmanned platforms, but also in the full operational ecosystem that supports them.”

Co-production and an operational partnership between the U.S. and Ukraine align with the goals and spirit of the President’s vision for a stronger, more innovative American military. Several of America’s adversaries are leveraging their experience from the war in Ukraine to advance AI-enabled warfare programs. The letter seeks confirmation from the Pentagon that current funding and policy would enable co-production.  

“We have seen in the Russian invasion of Ukraine that drones have revolutionized the way we think about warfare. The Ukrainians are pioneering the drone and counter-drone technology sectors, including everything from rapidly manufacturing and modifying to fielding and developing new tactics,” said Rep. Bacon. “This letter asks the Pentagon to lean into the incredible strides that Ukraine has made in this new way of war, by both investing in co-production of drone and counter-drone systems with the Ukrainians, and in carefully gathering lessons learned. If we do not do this work, it is guaranteed that our adversaries will.”

“I’m joining Rep. Don Bacon in calling on the Department of Defense to allow for the increase of U.S.-Ukraine collaboration in Unmanned Aerial Systems that will help Ukraine secure itself and improve our national security. Developing drone capability is essential to America's 21st-century interests,” said Rep. Khanna.

“Partnering with Ukraine on drone technology is not just about supporting a partner—it’s about ensuring the United States remains a leader in military innovation and safeguarding our position against global threats. I’m proud to join my colleagues in urging the Department of Defense to expand this collaboration and advance America’s next-generation drone capabilities,” said Rep. Quigley.

You can read the full letter here.

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