Five Departments Coordinate Counter-Drone Testing and Deployment

On November 9, 2026, five federal departments announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to coordinate the evaluation, testing, data sharing, and deployment of counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS). The agreement brings together the Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of War (DoW), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Energy (DOE), and Department of Justice (DOJ). Led by the White House Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty, the effort establishes a more consistent interagency process for responding to unauthorized or hostile drones while protecting aviation and transportation operations. The announcement describes a coordination framework—not a procurement action—and provides no solicitation, funding amount, contract value, or acquisition schedule.

The MOU addresses a central operational challenge for counter-drone programs: technologies such as electronic jamming and other mitigation methods may interfere with aircraft radars, communications, GPS, or navigation equipment. The agencies say evaluation and deployment will account for these risks through Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety review and airspace deconfliction. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agreement “builds on the work already underway with our federal partners and establishes a consistent process to ensure counter-drone technologies can be used without compromising aviation safety.” The agencies also cited existing coordination, including a temporary flight restriction along the southern U.S. border and a comprehensive safety assessment of DoW’s high-energy laser counter-drone system.

The initiative comes amid concern about unauthorized drone activity near military bases and sensitive national security sites, as well as the possibility of drone swarms and threats to critical infrastructure or public gatherings. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has emphasized that counter-drone approaches must be affordable, particularly as agencies consider the cost and effectiveness of intercepting large numbers of threats. In related remarks, Mullin cited a $40,000 production price for a one-way attack drone and questioned whether a non-reusable system at that price could be economically viable. The source reporting also describes ongoing operational constraints, including DHS counter-drone challenges around the FIFA World Cup and demand for the FBI counter-drone training center exceeding its capacity.

For contractors, the announcement signals a potential future market rather than an immediate bid opportunity. Companies working in drone detection, tracking, monitoring, mitigation, testing, high-energy lasers, interoperability, and aviation-safety integration may find opportunities if agencies translate the MOU into technical assessments, demonstrations, or acquisitions. Vendors should prepare evidence that their systems are cost-effective, perform reliably against varied threats—including swarms—and can operate safely around civilian airspace and transportation assets. The MOU does not specify how agencies will share data, what technologies will be prioritized, or when procurements may follow, so firms should monitor agency announcements and any subsequent test or solicitation activity rather than assume a near-term award.

• Five departments—DOT, DoW, DHS, DOE, and DOJ—signed an MOU to coordinate counter-UAS evaluation and deployment.
• The White House Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty led the agreement; the MOU text was not published in the cited reporting.
• The framework addresses technology evaluation, testing, data sharing, and deployment, with FAA safety review and airspace deconfliction among its priorities.
• The agencies cite prior coordination involving a temporary flight restriction along the southern U.S. border and a safety assessment of DoW’s high-energy laser system.
• DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has called for affordable counter-drone capabilities, especially for dealing with drone swarms.
• Mullin cited a $40,000 production price for a one-way attack drone, raising questions about the economics of non-reusable interceptors.
• Potential future capability areas include detection, tracking, monitoring, mitigation, testing, interoperability, and aviation-safety integration.
• No solicitation, funding, contract value, or procurement schedule was announced; contractors should treat the MOU as an early market signal and track follow-on agency activity.