Army Task Force Formed under Hegseth for Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems Operations
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has announced the creation of a new joint task force, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401), to bolster counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) capabilities within the military. The task force will be led by Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, as directed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The task force will pursue multi-year, flexible funding through legislation, encompassing research and development, procurement, and operations and maintenance efforts. Mingus has requested flexible funding lines for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), C-UAS, and electronic warfare as part of the fiscal 2026 budget request.
The Defense Department has identified drones as a significant threat, particularly in the U.S. homeland, with the number of incidents increasing. Former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin established a targeted counter-UAS strategy in late 2024. The Replicator 2 effort for countering small drones at military installations worldwide will be consolidated under JIATF 401.
The director of JIATF 401 will have acquisition and procurement authority, as well as access to special hiring authorities. The director must submit unfunded requirements for fiscal 2026 to the comptroller within 30 days and will be responsible for securing classified office space in or near the Pentagon within one month.
The cost assessment and program evaluation office will ensure that the task force is resourced through the fiscal 2027 program budget review. Within 60 days, the comptroller, along with the cost assessment and program evaluation office, must prepare a plan to shift money from other accounts into JIATF 401.
The Army and Washington Headquarters Services have one month to secure classified office space for JIATF 401 personnel. Each service is required to provide four personnel with C-UAS expertise and update the secretary of Defense within 30 days on the status of those assignments.
The leadership of JIATF 401 was announced by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on August 29, but the specific individual who took command was not named in the provided search results. The director will also have the authority to approve up to $50 million in funding per effort for C-drone initiatives.
JIATF 401 will work with the Defense Innovation Unit to direct funding. All DoD-wide C-UAS research, development, test and evaluation efforts, except for service-specific and U.S. Special Operations Command programs of record, will be moved under JIATF 401, under the supervision of the deputy secretary of defense and the under secretary of defense for research and engineering.
Driscoll has 30 days to provide an implementation plan to enable JIATF 401 to execute at speed and scale, including the required resources, structure, and authorities. The task force will report directly to Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg.
The task force's mission is to rapidly field C-UAS capabilities in the U.S. military, countering the growing threat posed by drones. With the consolidation of efforts under JIATF 401 and the flexible funding provided, the U.S. military aims to stay ahead in the race to counter the increasing use of drones as a threat.
