Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of US Indo-Pacific Command, warned Congress that America's military must invest heavily in low-cost precision-kill weapons like drones to maintain superiority in the Indo-Pacific region. Without these systems, Paparo stated, the US risks losing a potential future conflict against adversaries like China, which has developed extensive anti-access and area-denial (A2/AD) capabilities.
The Rise of Low-Cost Weapons
Paparo highlighted the critical role of inexpensive, distributed precision weapons, citing their effectiveness in conflicts such as Ukraine and Iran. He noted that high-end systems are not always necessary for specific missions, such as intercepting one-way attack drones. 'This is a technology that we embrace, or we lose,' Paparo told the House Armed Services Committee.
'While we need exquisite to take down exquisite things, we need cheap, distributed, precision kill for things that don't require exquisite.'
Strategic Focus on Taiwan
The admiral reiterated his vision of turning the Taiwan Strait into a 'hellscape' of uncrewed systems and drones in the event of a Chinese invasion. This strategy, inspired by Ukraine's use of asymmetric warfare, aims to delay a Chinese assault and buy time for reinforcements. The US and Taiwan have already begun joint efforts to prepare Taiwanese forces for such a conflict, focusing on uncrewed systems and autonomy.
Budgetary Commitment
The White House has requested over $74 billion for drones and counter-drone solutions in its fiscal year 2027 budget, marking the largest investment in these capabilities to date. Paparo called the request 'historic' and emphasized that the Indo-Pacific theater must be the first to deploy these low-cost systems effectively.
Paparo also mentioned investments in low-cost hypersonic and cruise missiles, which provide additional flexibility to the US arsenal. These systems, he argued, are essential for maintaining operational freedom in contested regions like the First Island Chain.