Rep. Don Bacon and 14 members of Congress from both parties have sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth seeking clarification on whether current authorities and appropriations allow for collaboration between the United States and Ukraine in the co-production of tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and related platforms. The lawmakers also asked if this cooperation could extend to the operational ecosystem supporting these systems.
The letter emphasizes that such co-production and partnership would align with the President’s vision for a more innovative American military. It notes that adversaries are using lessons from the conflict in Ukraine to develop artificial intelligence-enabled warfare programs, raising concerns about maintaining U.S. military leadership.
Rep. Bacon said, “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. 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.”
Rep. Ro Khanna added, “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.”
Rep. Mike Quigley commented, “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.”
Don Bacon has represented Nebraska’s 2nd district in Congress since 2017 after succeeding Brad Ashford (source). Born in Momence, Illinois, he now resides in Papillion at age 59 (source). He holds degrees from Northern Illinois University and the University of Phoenix.
The full text of the bipartisan letter can be accessed online.
