The Department of War's Joint Inter-Agency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401) today announced the release of updated guidance for counter-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operations, empowering installation commanders to take decisive action to protect military facilities, assets, and personnel within the homeland.
The operational landscape has fundamentally and irrevocably changed. The proliferation of inexpensive, capable, and weaponizable unmanned aerial systems (UAS) by both peer competitors and non-state actors presents a direct and growing threat to our installations, our personnel, and our mission, both at home and abroad. Our adversaries are testing our resolve, seeking to exploit perceived gaps in our defenses to surveil operations, harass American forces, and undermine homeland security.
The guidance, signed by the Secretary of War on December 8, 2025, streamlines and consolidates existing policies for detecting and mitigating UAS under the authority of 10 U.S. Code § 130i. It addresses the direct and growing threat posed by the proliferation of inexpensive and capable UAS. This updated framework provides commanders with the expanded authority and flexibility needed to dominate the airspace above their installations.
"Drones are a defining threat for our time, Technology is evolving fast and our policies and c-UAS strategy here at home must adapt to meet this reality," said Brigadier General Matt Ross, Director of JIATF-401. "Countering drones does not start and stop at the fence line. With this new guidance installation commanders are empowered to address threats as they develop, and the guidance makes clear that unauthorized drone flights are a surveillance threat even before they breach an installation perimeter."
Key updates to the counter-UAS policy include:
Expanded Defensive Perimeters: The previous "fence-line" limitation has been removed, giving commanders a larger defensive area and greater decision space to protect covered facilities and assets.
Streamlined Threat Identification: Unauthorized surveillance of a designated facility now explicitly constitutes a threat. This, combined with the authority for commanders to make threat determinations based on the "totality of circumstances," grants greater operational flexibility.
Enhanced Interagency Cooperation: Bolstered by the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act, the policy authorizes sharing of UAS track and sensor data among interagency partners, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). It also allows for the use of trained and certified contractor personnel as C-sUAS operators.
Clear Authority Delegation: Service Secretaries are now authorized to designate "covered facilities or assets" based on risk assessments, an authority that can be delegated to Service Chiefs to ensure protection is applied where it is needed most.
In accordance with the new policy, installation commanders are directed to issue installation-specific operating procedures within 60 days. The guidance emphasizes a proactive approach by directing leaders to assess vulnerabilities, conduct rigorous training drills, and develop a robust defensive posture to deter and defeat any aerial threat.
JIATF-401 stands ready to assist commanders in this transition by providing access to Joint C-sUAS University (JCU) training, fostering transparent knowledge sharing, and offering a marketplace of tested and validated materiel capabilities. "JIATF-401 is an entirely joint, interagency endeavor dedicated to defeating small UAS," Ross said.
"Hardware alone is not sufficient. We need to train service members and work in concert with interagency partners so that we're all pulling together toward the same mission."
This initiative underscores the Department's commitment to continuously adapting amid a rapidly evolving operational landscape, ensuring the Joint Force remains the most lethal fighting force in the world.
