New Legislation Empowers JIATF-401 to Set Technical Standards and Block Unapproved Systems

The US Pentagon has given the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401) extraordinary authority to acquire and deploy counter-drone systems. The task force, established to counter the growing threat of small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS), will have the power to set technical standards, run field tests, and block acquisitions. The authority only applies to defenses against sUAS, Groups 1-3. The legislation, part of the National Defense Authorization Act, has been endorsed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and is expected to be approved by the Senate next week. The JIATF-401 will focus on synchronizing the services’ counter-drone programs and will have control over preexisting Department-wide counter-drone research and development efforts.