FOX Business’ Kelly Saberi joins ‘Varney & Co’ to report on how Midwest drone startups are training the US military for the future of warfare amid growing competition from China.
In an unassuming town outside Detroit, a small American startup is quietly preparing the US military for the next era of war – where wars will not be fought by soldiers, but by hordes of machines.
Swarm Defense initially built its business around major drone shows but has since branched out into the military. Today, the same interoperability and precision once used for entertainment is being used to help replicate one of the most complex threats facing modern militaries: the combined drone-swarm attack.
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FOX Business’ Kelly Saberi told “Varney & Co.” that Swarm Defense technology allows thousands of drones to be launched simultaneously. The system is designed to simulate how soldiers feel when dealing with an integrated drone network in realistic combat situations.
The company’s simulation platform uses custom-built software that allows each drone to share data and communicate in real time, similar to how a flock of birds moves in concert. That kind of interaction is what makes drone warfare so difficult — and why hands-on training is seen as a key asset for US forces dealing with increasingly autonomous threats.
Conflicts overseas, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have underscored how quickly drones are being weaponized and how widely inexpensive foreign-made systems are being used on battlefields. Saberi noted that many foreign militaries have used drones made by Chinese manufacturers, raising concerns about supply chain risks and national security, and highlighting the need for strict compliance with federal regulations such as those in the National Defense Authorization Act that govern the acquisition of US defense technology.
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The Department of Defense and other government agencies have long moved to restrict the purchase of drones with Chinese components over security concerns, including the potential dangers of data transmission tied to foreign infrastructure. By the end of 2025, the Federal Communications Commission is adding Chinese drone makers DJI and Autel, as well as foreign-made drones and parts, to the list of devices that pose “unacceptable risks” to US national security, effectively barring the approval of new models for import or sale without the approval of the defense agency. This follows extensive congressional review and legislative language in recent defense regulations aimed at reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.
Industry experts note that China remains the world’s leading drone producer, with more units produced annually than US companies — a gap that has put firms like Swarm Defense in the spotlight as Washington seeks to rebuild domestic drone capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign technology.
The manager of this company, Kyle Dorosz, emphasized the urgency of increasing American production.
“We have a long way to go to… continue to provide drones without relying on foreign countries,” he said. “We need to be ready to scale, we need to be ready to react, and we need to be ready to support the American drone regime.”
Defense Swarm Technologies drones are on the way ready to fly during the day. (Getty Images)
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Apart from production, the training part remains the focus. Saberi described the experience as intense and highly integrated, designed to prepare soldiers for the sights, sounds and physical stresses of future combat situations involving autonomous systems.
As global threats emerge, small factories in places like Auburn Hills are becoming essential to America’s defense strategy — workshops where the next generation of war is being built, one American-made airplane at a time.
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