The Trump administration announced on 9 November an interagency effort to develop new countermeasures against drone threats in the US, involving the Departments of Transportation, Defense, Homeland Security, Energy and Justice.
The strategy centres on several temporary flight restrictions on the southern US border and on completing the safety assessment of the Defense Department's high-energy laser system against drones.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said bringing the federal partners together would strengthen the government's ability to combat rogue drones and keep air travellers safe. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agreement sets a consistent process so counter-drone technology can be used without putting aviation safety at risk.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the southern border had shown that counter-drone defences, including high-energy lasers, can be deployed quickly and safely alongside civilian aviation.
Also reported by Unmanned Airspace, Anadolu Agency, DefenseScoop, Al Jazeera, DroneLife and DroneXL
Background
The Pentagon
Defence department
The Pentagon said it is expanding production on commercial lines and using modular software to get new equipment to troops faster.
Description from Defence Industry Europe
US Department of Homeland Security
Organization
US federal department responsible for domestic security.
Description from droneauthority.org
Federal Aviation Administration
Organization
United States civil aviation regulator, part of the Department of Transportation.
Description from faa.gov
