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From Congress Mandates Counter-Drone Pilot Program; Pentagon Selects Vendors

How will the counter-drone pilot program affect the Army's operational requirements?

Army must operate and test new directed-energy weapons in counter-drone pilot Congress mandated a counter-drone pilot program, leading the Pentagon to select four directed-energy systems, including AeroVironment's palletized laser and Epirus's high-powered microwave system. The Army, through Joint Interagency Task Force 401, will run the pilot for one year. This requires Army service members to operate and maintain the weapons while assessing their power requirements and fully burdened costs.

Reported by 2 independent outlets Written Wednesday
Effect
Strong negative
How direct
3 steps, all reported
When
Within months
The story
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How it reaches Army

Reported by news outlets

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The facts so far

As reported. Each one links to where it comes from.

  • Congress ordered the program in Section 1089 of the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Actwyomingnewsnow.tv
  • The Department of War named four systems for the pilot program: AeroVironment's laser, Epirus Leonidas microwave system, Kord Firefly laser, and Boeing's compact laser weaponwyomingnewsnow.tv
  • The pilot will run for one year with service members operating and maintaining the weaponswyomingnewsnow.tv
  • Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross directs the task force running the pilotwyomingnewsnow.tv
  • The Trump administration requested $14.4 billion in fiscal 2027 for counter-drone defenses at more than 250 siteswyomingnewsnow.tv

Why it matters

The Army's ability to defend military installations against drone incursions is critical, as highlighted by drone flights over sensitive installations like Joint Base Langley-Eustis in December 2023. The pilot program represents a major shift toward integrating high-tech directed-energy weapons into frontline defense, requiring the Army to adapt its operational procedures and maintenance protocols for these complex systems.

This effort is part of a broader, multi-billion dollar push by the Pentagon to consolidate counter-drone efforts across all services under Joint Interagency Task Force 401. The program is backed by a request for $14.4 billion in fiscal 2027, indicating a long-term strategic commitment to enhancing military base security using advanced technologies.

What we don't know yet

  • Will the pilot program lead to the adoption of directed-energy weapons as standard issue for Army installations?
  • What is the fully burdened cost of operating the selected directed-energy systems over a 365-day period?

Is this still moving?

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What would change this answer

The Department of War extends the statutory deadline for system procurementThe Army will have more time to integrate the new systems into its training and operational cycles.
The Army decides to scale up the pilot program beyond the initial four installationsThe operational burden and resource requirements for the Army will increase significantly.

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