Pentagon Counter-Drone Office Expansion Sought in Defense Bill

A Defense Department office responsible for addressing drone warfare threats would be expanded and elevated under must-pass defense legislation House lawmakers started working to advance Tuesday.

The Joint Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office, which is currently organized under the Department of the Army, would be elevated within the Pentagon and staffed by members from all the military services under draft text of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2026.

Efforts to reorganize how the US military coordinates its response to threats from unmanned aircraft systems follow recent examples highlighting how drone technology is changing warfare, including in ...