‘Everybody is going underground’: CENTCOM head calls for new tech to hit buried targets
Adm. Brad Cooper was praised, and grilled, by lawmakers during his first HASC hearing.
Thomas Novelly | May 19, 2026
More money to counter drones and attack underground targets is necessary for future fights, the head of U.S. Central Command said on Thursday, as lawmakers praised and grilled the four-star admiral about the war in Iran.
In his first House Armed Services Committee appearance since the Iran war began, Adm. Brad Cooper said the U.S. military has changed even in the past eight weeks, leaning on LUCAS drones as well as land-attack missiles and finding cheaper ways to fight off Iranian drones and other weapons.
But when asked by Rep. John McGuire, R-Va., what additional support was needed, the four-star admiral had a wish list ready.
“I’d put three things: more electronic warfare, keep counter-UAS on the leading edge—tactics change very quickly—and we need to invest more in hard and deeply buried targets,” Cooper said. “Everybody is going underground.”
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2026/05/everybody-going-underground-centcom-head-calls-new-tech-hit-buried-targets/413653/?oref=d1-skybox-hp
