DHS Launches $115M Counter-Drone Office
The Department of Homeland Security has launched a new Program Executive Office with $115 million in funding to centralize and advance drone and counter-drone technologies. The office aims to unify security efforts for major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and America 250. A key focus is on non-kinetic, "RF cyber" solutions that can take control of rogue drones and guide them to safe zones without causing collateral damage.
- The $115 million is part of a wider federal investment in counter-drone technology totaling over $1.86 billion, which includes a $1.5 billion contract vehicle for agencies like Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and $250 million in FEMA grants for the 11 states hosting World Cup matches. - The push for enhanced security comes as drone incursions at major events have surged; the NFL reported a near doubling of unauthorized drone flights around its stadiums, from 1,300 to approximately 2,300, between 2021 and 2024. - The focus on "RF cyber" technology involves non-kinetic systems that identify a drone's specific communication protocol. Instead of jamming signals or using projectiles, these systems hijack the control link to guide the rogue drone to a safe landing zone for forensic analysis. - One of the key challenges in deploying these systems is jurisdictional; in the U.S., legal authority to mitigate drone threats rests almost exclusively with federal agencies, creating potential response gaps for state, local, and private security who may detect a drone but cannot legally act. - While non-kinetic solutions are preferred, DHS has also procured kinetic systems for World Cup security, including a multimillion-dollar order for Fortem Technologies' "DroneHunter" interceptors, which fire a net to physically capture and carry away a rogue drone, minimizing debris over crowds. - This new office builds upon authority first granted to the DHS in 2018; since then, the department has conducted over 1,500 missions to counter illicit drone activities across the country. - Past drone incidents at major venues highlight the threat, such as the December 2018 shutdown of London's Gatwick Airport, where reported drone sightings grounded flights for over a day, affecting 140,000 passengers and around 1,000 flights.
