The U.S. military is preparing to move rapidly from testing to procurement of counter-UAS systems evaluated during the latest Falcon Peak exercise, with officials emphasizing layered defenses, interoperability and rapid adaptation.
Falcon Peak brought together industry and military teams at Yuma Proving Ground to test sensors, effectors and small-arms solutions in realistic conditions. Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, Director of Joint Interagency Task Force 401, said the exercise is designed to generate data that can support procurement decisions.
“How long will it take us to make decisions internal to JIATF 401 coming out of Falcon Peak? I can’t give you an exact answer, but it’s days, not weeks,” Ross said.
Brig. Gen. Jason “Ox” Rueschhoff, Operations Director for U.S. Northern Command, said the exercise is focused on moving capabilities toward operational users rather than conducting demonstrations without a clear path to fielding.
“For us, this is all about experimenting to win,” Rueschhoff said.
