Unmanned | Sunday on 60 Minutes

CBS News
March 26, 2026
3 min read

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Ukraine's drone warfare has provided the Pentagon unprecedented data reshaping U.S. military doctrine as it confronts similar technology from Iran.

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A 60 Minutes segment examines how unmanned, remotely-controlled drones have reshaped warfare in Ukraine and are now a critical focus for U.S. military strategy as American forces confront similar drone technology in conflict with Iran. The Ukraine conflict has provided unprecedented real-world data on drone tactics, capabilities, and vulnerabilities that are directly informing Pentagon doctrine and operational planning. The proliferation of affordable, deployable drone systems represents a fundamental shift in modern warfare, where non-state actors and adversaries can now project power without traditional military infrastructure. As Iran has demonstrated increasing sophistication with unmanned weapons, the U.S. military faces the challenge of adapting defenses and tactics to counter technology that was largely absent from American combat doctrine a decade ago.

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