Pentagon task force commits more than $600 million to counter-drone missions
The U.S. Defense Department has committed more than $600 million to counter-unmanned aircraft systems across combat operations, domestic event security and critical infrastructure defense. The funding marks the biggest single milestone yet for Joint Interagency Task Force 401, the Army-led organization created in August 2025 to centralize counter-drone authorities and speed fielding.
The largest portion, $350 million, went to urgent operational needs during the first month of Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli campaign launched on Feb. 28 against Iran’s missile infrastructure, naval forces and nuclear program. The money supported demands from U.S. Central Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Global Strike Command and U.S. Army Transportation Command, underscoring how quickly counter-UAS systems are being pulled from procurement channels into active operations.
A separate $100 million package is tied to security for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with matches spread across 11 cities in nine states. The Pentagon plans to deploy mobile sensing systems and non-kinetic mitigation tools designed for dense civilian settings, with Army National Guard units operating them alongside interagency law enforcement partners. The equipment will stay in service after the tournament and shift into base protection and critical infrastructure defense, giving commanders mobile assets that can be repositioned as drone threats evolve.
The remaining $158 million, funded under the Domestic Shield initiative, targets the country’s highest-priority defense critical infrastructure after requirements were validated through an expedited site survey process with direct military service input. In parallel, JIATF-401 has been expanding its procurement backbone through a Counter-UAS Marketplace on the Common Hardware Systems electronic catalog, allowing authorized users to order vetted sensors, effectors and command-and-control systems without opening new contracts. Initial marketplace orders have gone to AeroVironment and Smart Shooter, while Fortem Technology’s DroneHunter F700 became the first system bought under the Replicator 2 effort focused on protecting installations and critical infrastructure from small drones.
The Pentagon has not disclosed which companies will supply the mobile non-kinetic systems for the World Cup or the systems selected for Domestic Shield sites. Even so, the size and speed of these commitments signal a broader shift. Counter-drone capability is moving from a slow acquisition program to an operational necessity, with implications for battlefield survivability, homeland security and long-term defense of critical sites.