The Joint Interagency Task Force 401 recently selected the five installations that will participate in the directed-energy counter-unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) pilot program included in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.
The installations are located in Arizona, Missouri, North Dakota, Texas and Washington and were selected to support testing and operational assessments. Capabilities such as high-powered microwave systems and high-energy lasers are among many counter-UAS tools available, and the technology enables service members to disrupt and defeat unlawful or adversarial drone activity.
The pilot program builds on several recent advancements toward the safe domestic employment of directed-energy systems including operational systems that supported a southern border mission, a safety risk assessment that established procedures for future use, and a demonstration validating that the systems do not pose undue risk to passenger aircraft.
“There is no ‘silver bullet’ to address this challenge, and this pilot program integrates cutting-edge technology into the department’s broader counter-drone toolkit,” Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 director, said.
The program was developed in close coordination with U.S. Northern Command and the Federal Aviation Administration. The Defense Department will finalize deployment plans with the installations’ commanders within the next 180 days, and operations will begin later this year.