The United States Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) wants the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish a counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) task force and develop a C-UAS strategy.
SASC passed its version of the US fiscal 2025 defence authorisation bill on June 13. The bill now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.
The SASC bill requires a C-UAS task force to review guidance relating to counter drone activities. It calls for a DOD strategy to cover C-UAS technologies, referring drone offences for investigation and prosecution, and assessing resources or authorities necessary for drone incursion response.
The bill would direct the US Army, Navy, and Air Force to provide briefings on respective service plans for C-UAS capabilities as well as requiring a report on all recommendations, findings, and results from DOD’s C-UAS Cross Functional Team, including efforts relating to airspace data feed accessibility. It would also require the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office to provide a liaison to the C-UAS task force to improve coordination in areas of shared responsibility.
In addition, the bill would authorise increased funding for C-UAS research and testing between the Army and university-based partners; as well as increased funding for various combatant commands’ C-UAS activities.
SASC also calls for a full-scale C-UAS exercise in DOD’s special use airspace with a briefing on the outcomes and lessons learned from the exercise. A further briefing, on the acquisition of military grade UAS by foreign terrorist organisations is included in the bill.
Finally, SASC’s bill requires the Army to certify at least one additional interceptor and production manufacturer for the M-LIDS/FS-LIDS counter-UAS system.
For more information
US Senate Armed Services Committee
Image: US Marines conduct simulated counter unmanned aerial systems operations in the Atlantic Ocean, April 14, 2024. US Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aydan Millette.
