Joint Interagency Task Force 401 has selected five military installations to participate in a directed-energy counter-drone pilot program established under the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.
The initiative is intended to accelerate the testing and operational evaluation of directed-energy technologies designed to counter unmanned aerial threats while protecting military installations, critical infrastructure and homeland missions.
The selected locations are Fort Huachuca, Fort Bliss, Naval Base Kitsap, Grand Forks Air Force Base and Whiteman Air Force Base.
Officials said the sites were chosen to support testing across different operational environments and mission requirements, including installations near the southern U.S. border.
“Countering unlawful and adversarial drone activity is a homeland defense imperative,” said Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, Director of Joint Interagency Task Force 401. “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.”
Program focuses on lasers and high-powered microwaves
The pilot program will evaluate systems including high-energy lasers and high-powered microwave technologies as part of a layered counter-UAS approach. According to officials, the systems are intended to disrupt or defeat drones while reducing risk to nearby personnel and infrastructure.
The effort is being conducted in coordination with the military services, United States Northern Command and the Federal Aviation Administration.
Officials said the initiative builds on earlier milestones related to the domestic use of directed-energy systems, including demonstrations at White Sands Missile Range that assessed aviation safety risks.
“Our collaboration with the FAA and the successful demonstration at White Sands were pivotal steps forward in our counter-UAS efforts,” said Scott McLellan, deputy director of the task force. “We showed that directed-energy systems can counter drone threats while preserving the safety of air travelers. This pilot program now allows us to translate that progress into evolving operational capability for the homeland.”
Deployment planning underway
The Department of Defense said installation commanders will work with program officials over the next 180 days to finalize deployment plans, with operational activities expected to begin later this year.
The announcement reflects continued Pentagon efforts to expand counter-drone capabilities amid growing concerns over unlawful and adversarial unmanned aircraft activity in domestic and military airspace.
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Post Image Credit: Hayden Hallman, U.S. Air Force
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