The U.S. Department of Defense is slashing drone procurement timelines from years to months, pivoting to fiber-optic FPV systems pioneered by Ukraine to counter Russian electronic warfare dominance. This strategic reset, driven by the Defense Innovation Unit and Replicator program, replaces traditional defense contracting with agile, AI-enabled acquisition models that prioritize low-cost, mass-deployable unmanned systems. With over 1.5 million FPV drones produced by Ukraine in 2024 and fiber-optic variants now immune to jamming, the DoD is approving hundreds of American-made systems for immediate military purchase. The shift enables frontline forces to deploy cost-effective interceptor drones within weeks, fundamentally altering unmanned warfare dynamics and accelerating the sector’s transition toward software-driven, rapid-cycle procurement.