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 task force has selected five U.S. locations to test "directed energy" systems, including high-energy lasers and high-powered microwaves, for mitigating drone threats.
The Pentagon plans rigorous testing and aims for operational deployment of this counter-UAS technology this year, after previous tests validated its safety for passenger aircraft.
This pilot program is part of a broader homeland defense strategy to protect critical infrastructure and events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup from unlawful drone activity.
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.
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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.
