U.S. Army drone operators Anthony Kavanaugh (left) and Ari Snipes conduct testing with small uncrewed aircraft in Washington on April 23. [Credit: U.S. Air Force/Hayden Hallman]
Key Takeaways:
A federal counter-uncrewed aircraft systems (C-UAS) task force announced five locations to test "directed energy" systems (high-energy lasers and high-powered microwaves) for mitigating drone threats, with operational deployment aimed for this year.
Previous testing by the FAA and Pentagon validated that these systems do not pose undue risk to passenger aircraft, clearing them for future deployment to protect critical infrastructure and military installations.
This pilot program is part of a broader "homeland defense imperative" to counter unlawful drone activity, with significant federal funding allocated and a focus on securing major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A federal counter-uncrewed aircraft systems (C-UAS) task force on Wednesday announced five locations that will test “high-energy lasers and high-powered microwave systems” designed to mitigate drone threats.
The Pentagon plans to conduct “rigorous testing and operational assessments” using the “directed energy” technology, which it aims to deploy operationally this year.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
