Pentagon creates secret task force to counter UAVs

Faced with the growing threat of UAVs, the Pentagon creates a new task force with the motto “speed over process”.

On August 29, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth unexpectedly announced the establishment of Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401), which is considered the Pentagon’s “acceleration move” in the fight against UAVs. This move reflects the urgency of the increasingly sophisticated and widespread wave of drones that has become a new security challenge for both the battlefield and the US homeland.

According to Hegseth, UAVs are no longer just appearing on distant battlefields but are present right at the border and even in US airspace. “They attack bases, target soldiers and threaten national sovereignty ,” he emphasized, while affirming that the US cannot continue to follow cumbersome procedures and must prioritize speed.

JIATF 401 was created to replace the Small Counter UAV Systems Office (JCO) that existed since 2020. The Pentagon admitted that the JCO lacked flexibility as the number of participating agencies increased but coordination was poor, causing delays in responding to UAVs.

Unlike its predecessor, JIATF 401 will have direct procurement authority, integrating research, development, testing, and evaluation, except for specific programs of each service. The director of the force will be allowed to approve investments of up to $50 million for each C-sUAS project.

JIATF 401 also takes over Replicator 2, a technology acquisition accelerator program that has been attracting attention at the Pentagon. This allows the new force to work directly with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to fund and implement counter-UAV projects. This is considered a “leapfrog” that helps break the cumbersome process that has caused many plans to drag on for years.

In addition to funding, JIATF 401 is given special recruiting authority, attracting personnel with expertise in intelligence, electronic warfare, procurement, and UAV research. The Pentagon hopes this flexibility will give the force enough brainpower to keep up with the pace of global UAV development.

Another highlight is the integration of the Army’s C-sUAS University at Fort Sill into the task force’s control. This place will become a training center for officers, teaching defensive tactics against UAVs, thereby disseminating experience to the entire US Army.

But JIATF 401’s path has not been a bed of roses. Hegseth’s memo sidesteps a key point: the right to fire on UAVs on U.S. soil. The military is still bound by layers of regulations that make it nearly impossible to shoot down or disable drones domestically—even when the threat is already in the sky.

US military bases have been repeatedly infiltrated by UAVs. Notably, Langley, Wright-Patterson, Picatinny, and four bases in the UK. In addition, UAVs have appeared near nuclear power plants, military training areas, and even harassed US warships off the coast of California.

On the front lines, UAVs have become a common weapon. In Ukraine, FPV UAVs are changing the game, while Russia relies on Shahed as a long-range strike tool. In the Middle East, UAVs deployed by Iran, Hezbollah or Houthi continue to threaten US bases and warships. The global picture shows that UAVs are no longer a “cheap” technology but have become a strategic weapon.

Experts emphasize that although the US has developed many C-sUAS technologies, from lasers, microwaves to interceptor missiles, the current focus is still on electronic warfare and “soft kill”. The reason: hard measures can cause unintended dangers, especially when deployed domestically.

The Pentagon has given JIATF 401 36 months to prove its worth. Despite legal hurdles, the task force has marked a turning point in the recognition of UAVs as a top threat. Will JIATF 401 have the authority to act, or will its hands be tied again?

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