The passage of FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes an increase in funding on counter-UAS systems of USD336.4 million, according to Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) President and CEO Michael Robbins in a X post.
According to the post:
“Of note, funding for UAS Detection & Mitigation is increased by $336.442M across multiple budget lines (Army, USAF, USN, etc.) for homeland defense and OCONUS investments, totaling more than $1.7B for DoD spending.”
As well as increasing funding for critical DOD programmes and offices, including the Defense Innovation Unit, AFWERX Prime, Replicator, and autonomy engineering for the Next Generation Combat Vehicle, exceeding requested amounts, the legislation “furthers the transition of hybrid and electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft and autonomy technologies from the Agility Prime program into the active Armed Forces (Section 229) and addresses the threat of sUAS to U.S. forces and bases (Sections 353, 925, 1073, 1089, and 1090),” according to an AUVSI statement.
The importance of increasing spending on counter-UAS systems were underlined by Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) shortly before the passage of the bill, in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson.
“In light of the recent incidents involving drones spotted over the eastern seaboard, we urge you to swiftly take action on counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) legislation that will allow for state and local law enforcement to protect their communities from this emerging threat in the year end continuing resolution,” they said in the letter.
The Senate approved the USD895 billion NDAA on the 18 December by an 85 to 14 vote. According to news reports 11 Democrats and three Republicans voted against it. The bill is expected to be signed by President Biden imminently.
