U.S. Military's Drone Capabilities Under Review Amid Emerging Tech

Merlin Labs CEO Matt George discussed the evolution of air power towards autonomous systems at CNBC's CONVERGE LIVE event. He emphasized that while the U.S. has the largest air force, it may lack a definitive lead in autonomous drone technology. The conflict in Ukraine has illustrated the effectiveness of low-cost drones, with reports of Ukraine damaging over 40 Russian planes during attacks using drones in June 2025. The Center for Strategic and International Studies noted a cost disparity where $4 million U.S. missiles face $50,000 Iranian drones, raising concerns over military spending priorities.