Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would strengthen the United States’ ability to counter emerging threats posed by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
The Detecting and Evaluating Foreign Exploitation of Novel Drones (DEFEND) Act would direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to produce a recurring, UAS-specific terrorism threat assessment over a seven-year period.
The assessment would use real-world operational lessons from active conflict zones to analyze emerging trends that can help DHS improve coordination with state, local, tribal, territorial, and private partners to better detect, monitor, and neutralize drone-based threats before they reach U.S. soil. The assessment would focused on how foreign adversaries, terrorist organizations and cartels are developing, acquiring and operationalizing UAS. It also would evaluate what trends mean for preparedness efforts, and the private sector.
“As drone technology rapidly transforms the modern battlefield, Congress can’t afford to be in the dark on these evolving threats,” U.S. Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), who introduced the bill, said. “Due to the widespread availability of drones, adaptable payloads, and remote capabilities, America must maintain a decisive tactical advantage. The DEFEND Act ensures Congress has the knowledge necessary to effectively allocate resources to defend our homeland. I encourage my colleagues to back this approach to close this intelligence blind spot.”