Government Moves to Fast-Track Drone Defense
Federal agencies signed a memo to accelerate the deployment of counter-drone technologies at the US-Mexico border.
By Amit Chukwu ·
The Trump administration announced on Monday that it is moving to accelerate the deployment of counter-drone systems to meet rising security threats.
A joint memorandum was signed by the Department of Transportation, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Justice. The document directs these agencies to evaluate available technologies and implement safe deployment strategies to protect aviation and national security.
Liam McKenna, a senior official at the Federal Aviation Administration, stated that his agency has approved more than 1,000 coordination efforts with the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security regarding these deployments. He noted that the FAA is prioritizing rapid testing to understand system capabilities before federal agencies use them in the field.
"We're very familiar with them from day one when they are ready," McKenna said. "There's many systems that some of the security agencies are considering using that we've seen before and we can turn around the process in 24 hours."
In October, the FAA issued a temporary flight restriction along the entire US border with Mexico. This ban covers all unauthorized drone activity up to 400 feet above ground level and extends one nautical mile north of the international boundary.
The Department of Defense reported that over 1,000 drone incursions occur along the southern border each month. Security officials have expressed concern over Mexican cartels utilizing drones to drop drug packages or monitor trafficking routes. In April, the FAA and the Pentagon reached an agreement allowing the use of a high-energy laser system by Customs and Border Protection at the border.
In February, the FAA suspended all flights at the El Paso, Texas, airport for ten days because the laser system was used without a completed safety review. The FAA lifted the shutdown order after eight hours following White House intervention. Shortly after, the military used the laser system to shoot down a Customs and Border Protection drone, prompting the FAA to expand the flight restriction area around Fort Hancock, Texas.
