Military UAS and counter-drone technology development

Military and interagency efforts are expanding the development and deployment of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and counter-UAS technologies.

In Morocco, the Utah National Guard and the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces are conducting specialized training in Agadir to develop UAS operators and instructors. This initiative, supported by U.S. Africa Command and the 7th Army Training Command, aims to improve interoperability and information sharing. Concurrently, in the United States, the National Nuclear Security Administration and Joint Interagency Task Force 401 have established a memorandum of understanding to enhance collaboration on counter-drone technologies to protect sensitive sites.

Further technological advancements are being driven by Joint Interagency Field Experimentation (JIFX) events, which focus on autonomous swarming, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Recent testing in California included nearly 200 uncrewed aerial vehicle sorties. Additionally, the U.S. Department of War’s Drone Dominance Program is facilitating competition among private companies to advance AI-enabled networking and autonomy in contested environments.

Building on these efforts, the U.S. Department of War is implementing modernization initiatives to accelerate the transition of technologies from laboratories to operational use, following recommendations from the White House Office of Science and Technology report, ‘Science: A New Golden Age’. Key investments include $40 million for AI Forge and $200 million for Programmable Cloud Labs through fiscal year 2028. The Department is also partnering with the National Science Foundation to strengthen a shared research ecosystem. Furthermore, the U.S. Coast Guard has ordered four MQ-9B drone ground control stations from General Atomics for $247.8 million to enhance the protection of borders, waterways, and critical infrastructure.