world
Five US Military Bases Selected for Anti-Drone Pilot Program
The Joint Interagency Task Force 401 has chosen five military installations, including two along the southern border, to test directed energy systems against small unmanned aircraft. The program follows earlier tests conducted with the Federal Aviation Administration. Operations are scheduled to begin later this year after deployment plans are completed within 180 days.
May 11, 1:25 PM·2m read1 source
Defense NewsAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
The U.S. task force responsible for countering small unmanned aircraft has selected five military installations to participate in an anti-drone pilot program. The U.S. Army-led Joint Interagency Task Force 401, which was established in August 2025 and included in the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, picked the sites to test advanced directed energy capabilities.
Two of the installations are along the southern border, according to a May 6 Department of Defense release. “Countering unlawful and adversarial drone activity is a homeland defense imperative,” the task force director said in the release. ” The five chosen installations are Fort Huachuca in Arizona and Fort Bliss in Texas, both near the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as Naval Base Kitsap in Washington, Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota, and Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
Officials selected the locations to support testing and operational assessments across a variety of mission goals and environments.
The release did not specify which systems each base will test. It highlighted high-energy lasers and high-powered microwave systems that can counteract adversarial or unlawful drone activity while reducing risk to nearby personnel and infrastructure.
The announcement follows anti-drone laser tests conducted by the Pentagon and the Federal Aviation Administration in New Mexico in March. Those tests addressed safety concerns that arose after the Pentagon permitted U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use anti-drone lasers in February, which led the Federal Aviation Administration to close El Paso, Texas, airspace twice in one month.
