Misunderstanding Drone Failures: A Historical Perspective
Defense analysts and technologists assert that the established media’s portrayal of drone failures reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of America’s historical trajectory in the development of advanced military systems. They argue that failure-oriented testing has been a critical component of U.S. security paradigms.
Recent coverage from The Wall Street Journal and Reuters scrutinized defense technology firm Anduril, spotlighting several testing failures, from crashed drones to an engine-damaging nail unearthed after a ground run involving the company’s experimental unmanned jet.
This scrutiny coincides with Anduril’s accelerated efforts to develop autonomous systems for the Pentagon, including loitering munitions, counter-drone platforms, and a next-generation “Collaborative Combat Aircraft.”
Reported failures during Navy exercises, mishaps in Ukraine, and catastrophic incidents on U.S. test ranges have contributed to a narrative of dysfunction.
However, defense experts argue that these tests illuminate a robust development pipeline, echoing the methodologies of America’s most successful Cold War initiatives.
Historical evidence underpins this perspective. In 1957, General Bernard Schriever, the mastermind behind the U.S. ICBM program, witnessed the Thor missile’s catastrophic explosion just inches from the launch pad.
Subsequent tests met with similar fates. Yet, rather than casting these failures in a scandalous light, contemporary media framed them as inevitable milestones in a race to develop systems designed to counter the Soviet menace.
The challenges faced by Thor directly influenced the Minuteman program, which successfully completed a test flight within four years, ultimately becoming one of the most significant deterrents ever deployed.
Other notable programs also followed this trajectory. The CIA’s CORONA reconnaissance satellites faltered 12 times before they successfully returned film that significantly altered the strategic dynamics of the Cold War.
Early tests of the Sidewinder missile frequently resulted in misses; a test pilot humorously remarked that it flew off “like a big-assed bird.”
Similarly, Tomahawk cruise missile prototypes consistently crashed during early demonstrations, prompting the Secretary of Defense to remind the media that testing is, by design, meant to uncover flaws.
In this context, the present-day intense scrutiny of Anduril’s failed test flights—many of which occurred under deliberately rigorous conditions—reflects a shift towards a risk-averse, languid defense culture.
Critics contend this very posture has already caused delays in critical modernization programs. Anduril has emphasized that rapid iteration is at the heart of its approach, asserting it conducts tests “five days a week, nearly 52 weeks a year.” They term failures as “intentional” learning opportunities.
Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril, articulated his position candidly on X, stating, “We aren’t going to change. We aren’t going to slow down.
That is exactly what they want us to do, exactly what our competitors want, and the opposite of what building safe, powerful, cost-effective weapons actually looks like.”
We aren’t going to change. We aren’t going to slow down. That is exactly what they want us to do, exactly what our competitors want, and the opposite of what building safe, powerful, cost-effective weapons actually looks like. https://t.co/bQ9J9YgSaZ
— Palmer Luckey (@PalmerLuckey) December 3, 2025
Experts warn that narratives framing routine developmental setbacks as alarming may inadvertently engender an even greater inclination toward caution within the defense sector, echoing practices that historically impeded adversaries like the Soviet Union.
In light of escalating Chinese military capabilities, they caution that discouraging aggressive testing could stifle innovation at a time when the U.S. can least afford it.
From this vantage point, criticizing failure-centered testing does not merely highlight a national security issue—it potentially cultivates one.
Source link: Dailywire.com.
