C-UAS

Pentagon Establishes Joint Interagency Task Force to Deliver Affordable C-sUAS Capabilities

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Pentagon Establishes Joint Interagency Task Force to Deliver Affordable C-sUAS Capabilities
Pentagon DoD photo

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that he has directed Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll to formally establish a joint, interagency task force to counter hostile unmanned aerial systems, commonly referred to as drones.

"Our job here at the Pentagon — when you think about it — is to prepare for the threats of the future and build a force to match them, and defeat them, and outpace them,"

Hegseth said via a video message released to the public.

"And there's no doubt that the threats we face today from hostile drones grow by the day," he added.

Noting that hostile UAS are being operated overseas and at our borders while seeking to harm U.S. warfighters, bases and even the sovereignty of the national airspace, Hegseth said the new task force — Joint Interagency Task Force 401 — will be a unified team that will seek to bring together the best talent from multiple government agencies to counter UAS threats and restore control of the skies.

"It's called counter-UAS — counter-unmanned aerial systems — and America will be the best at it," Hegseth said.

Although the secretary did not comment on the estimated length of time before the task force will be operational, he did say the Pentagon is currently moving quickly to cut through bureaucracy and consolidate resources, so as to empower it with "the utmost authority to outpace our adversaries."

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Lezama, a military police officer assigned to the 615th Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, and his squad take down an unmanned aircraft system with a dronebuster at training at the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Demolition Range, U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria, July 8, 2025. The training enhances unit readiness by developing tactics and strategies to counter emerging threats.

He added that DOD is working to deliver real solutions and ensure American airspace remains secure at home, abroad and anywhere troops are stationed.

"They deserve to be defended by the best," Hegseth said.

To ensure that American airspace remains secure, Secretary Hegseth directed Secretary of the Army to formally establish the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401) — a new, unified team that will bring together our best talent from across all agencies to counter these threats and restore control of our skies. The Task Force will report to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, to better align authorities and resources to rapidly deliver Joint C-sUAS capabilities to America's warfighters, defeat adversary threats, and promote sovereignty over national airspace.

The memo is posted here.

Source: Department of Defense

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