Overview
- A memo signed June 29 by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth established the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems, or DRPM-UxS, which will report to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg.
- The DRPM-UxS portfolio covers UAS groups 1–3, all autonomous ground vehicles, and most unmanned surface vessels while explicitly excluding certain large unmanned airframes and the Navy’s Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel program.
- The Defense Autonomous Warfare Group and Joint Interagency Task Force 401 are now elements under DRPM-UxS, and the Defense Innovation Unit is named the primary industry engagement interface for the portfolio.
- The office receives expanded authorities over hiring, acquisition, budgets, personnel exemptions, and oversight of procurement marketplaces and must deliver staff hires in 30 days, an organization chart in 60 days, a portfolio baseline in 90 days, and an implementation plan in 120 days; no director has been named.
- Key questions remain about how the new office will interact with service acquisition chains, whether its leader will require Senate confirmation, and how the change will affect service programs and unit access to small drones and autonomy capabilities.