Why speed and innovation are the nation’s only defense
By Rick Smith, CEO of Axon
A suitcase-sized drone slips into the airspace above a U.S. military base. Operations grind to a halt. Security forces scramble, but the damage is already done — all caused by a device that costs less than a smartwatch.
This is not an anomaly. It is the new formula. A few hundred dollars in drone and robotics hardware can neutralize assets worth tens of millions, jeopardize readiness and expose vulnerabilities that U.S. adversaries are eager to exploit. Air superiority once belonged to nations with the largest fleets and elite pilots. That era is over. The decisive battles of this century are being fought at 300 feet, not 30,000. In every era of security, one truth endures: whoever adapts fastest wins. In the 20th century, that meant building bigger fleets and faster jets. However, in the 21st century, the advantage belongs to those who can out-innovate — not out-spend — and move at the speed of the threat.
A growing imbalance
In 2024, Axon’s Dedrone systems detected more than 1.2 million unauthorized drone violations across the U.S. By September 2025, that number had already surpassed 1 million — signaling an accelerating threat to U.S. airspace security. While most were benign, one drone in the hands of a bad actor could cause catastrophic harm. Adversaries are advancing quickly, deploying radio frequency–silent drones, GPS-denied navigation and swarms with shared targeting logic. These are not hypotheticals. They are active tactics.
Drones are being used at a pace the world has never seen. From airports to battlefields, stadiums to city centers, their presence is multiplying. Each incident may appear isolated in the news cycle, but together they reveal a trend line that cannot be ignored: Airspace is contested territory. Staying ahead requires more than a reaction. It demands the best intelligence possible, real-time awareness of the skies and the ability to command that awareness with confidence.
Dedrone provides that intelligence. Its systems bring together radar, radio frequency, optical, thermal and acoustic sensors into a unified picture of the airspace. Machine learning models analyze patterns and adapt as tactics evolve. Systems can geolocate pilots, identify spoofing attempts and — when authorized — deploy countermeasures. With this level of insight, leaders can see threats before they arrive, understand them in context and act before lives are put at risk.
Look at Ukraine for example. Small drones now dictate the rhythm of combat. They scout, strike and swarm in ways that overwhelm defenses designed for another era. Machines that fit in a backpack now achieve what once required high-end military aircraft. On a recent trip to Kyiv, I saw engineers and operators working in lockstep, pushing new capabilities from design to deployment in weeks because survival demanded it. That is the model for the future, and the urgency America must embrace.
From innovation to resilience
The U.S. cannot outspend these threats. We must outthink them. The same forces driving the challenge — autonomy, connectivity, rapid innovation — can also drive the solution. Bases can detect swarms before they reach a perimeter. Cities can integrate counter-drone defense into public safety networks. Mobile units can receive alerts from distant sensors before danger arrives. This is not theoretical. It is happening today, and it is saving lives.
The real gap is cultural and procedural, rather than technological. Drone warfare evolves at the speed of light, while government procurement still moves in multi-year cycles. That mismatch is not sustainable. If we allow bureaucracy to dictate the pace, we will fall behind. Innovation must move from builders to operators with urgency. Procurement must reward adaptability, not paperwork. Defense must shift from reactive to predictive, from isolated tools to connected ecosystems and from static systems to platforms that learn.
The drone age is here. Airspace is the new front line. The question is not whether America adapts, but how quickly, and whether it will lead or follow. The safety of our troops, our communities and our future depend on the answer.
Source: politico.com 10-28-25
