Lawmakers ask Army to explain why it told a military unit to stop specializing in drone warfare

WASHINGTON (AP) – A bipartisan group of U.S. Lawmakers is pressing the Army to explain why it informed a unit based in Europe to stop specializing in drone warfare, an order that comes as the world's battlefields rapidly evolve and military tactics.

What happened

Notably, the 173rd Airborne Brigade was building its own drones and practicing the kind of warfare that Ukraine has pioneered against Russia and that Iran has fought against the U.S. – warfare that has killed and wounded American troops. The brigade of 600 soldiers was set up in November to be deployed anywhere that drones were needed.

"We have deep concerns that eliminating this specialized drone unit will limit our ability to learn from allies, particularly the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and hinder our efforts to modernize drone warfare at the speed necessary to compete on the modern battlefield, " the lawmakers remarked in a letter shared with The Associated Press.

The bottom line

For now, lawmakers ask Army to explain why it told a military unit to remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.