Joint Interagency Task Force Marks 6 Months With Accelerated Delivery of Counter-UAS Capabilities Published Feb. 27, 2026 By Joint Interagency Task Force 401 Joint Interagency Task Force 401 marked six months since its establishment by demonstrating measurable progress in accelerating the delivery of counter-unmanned aircraft system capabilities to the joint force. JIATF 401 was created to move with urgency and integrate efforts across the War Department, delivering real capabilities to warfighters both at home and abroad. Photo Details / Download Hi-Res In its first six months, the task force demonstrated that speed and accountability can coexist. It is leading the execution of the department's Domestic Shield initiative, formerly called Replicator 2, delivering counter-UAS capability to secure sensitive sites and executing more than $30 million in rapid procurement actions. JIATF 401, in partnership with the Office of the Secretary of War for Policy, clarified policy guidance to empower installation commanders to protect their people and assets. These efforts proved decisive in addressing findings from an inspector general report, which revealed that "unclear and inconsistent policies" had left critical military installations exposed to drone threats. On Feb. 24, the task force received notification from the department IG that recommendation one from DODIG-2026-045, "Management Advisory: Immediate Attention Required to Protect DOD Covered Assets Against Unmanned Aircraft Systems," is closed. "From day one, our task was to close real gaps as quickly as we could," said Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, JIATF 401 director. "That meant moving past studies and pilots and getting usable counter-UAS capabilities integrated and fielded. At the six-month mark, we are not only delivering systems, [but] we are also clarifying authorities, establishing common standards, and building pathways that ensure capability reaches operators faster and with greater confidence." Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Alongside individual capability deliveries, JIATF 401 established a centralized counter-UAS marketplace, offering a joint platform to identify, assess, procure and integrate solutions across the entire force. To further enable integration, the task force executed an enterprisewide licensing agreement with industry partners for a common counter-UAS mission command system, supporting shared situational awareness and coordinated employment across supported organizations. Milestones by Line of Effort: Defend the Homeland Procured multiple systems in support of homeland defense requirements, aligned with the department's Domestic Shield program to accelerate delivery of scalable counter-UAS capabilities. Enhanced air domain awareness and integrated counter-UAS capabilities in support of defense installations, the southern border and the national capital region. Published the Guide for Physical Protection of Critical Infrastructure to help installation commanders and local law enforcement use passive measures to secure some of the nation's most vital assets against drone threats. Supported state, local, tribal and territorial law enforcement in accessing $250 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency grant funding designated for counter-UAS capability in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Support Warfighter Lethality Established a centralized counter-UAS marketplace to enable the service branches and interagency partners to procure validated solutions, aligning homeland defense requirements with available technologies and acquisition pathways. Enabled common mission command and shared situational awareness through enterprisewide licensing of a counter-UAS mission command system. Procured numerous low-collateral defeat systems and conducted operational assessments in partnership with the Army's Global Response Force to evaluate operations in expeditionary and high-readiness formations. Leveraged the Lt. Gen. James M. Gavin Joint Innovation Outpost to support rapid integration, operator feedback and refinement of counter-UAS concepts of employment. Reduced friction between operators, acquisition authorities and policy stakeholders to accelerate delivery of relevant counter-UAS capability to deployed and forward forces. Advanced data standardization efforts to ensure counter-small UAS interoperability across systems, organizations and nations. Joint Force Training Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Integrated counter-UAS capabilities into joint and service training environments to inform tactics, techniques and procedures. Formalized partnership with interagency counter-UAS training facilities to synchronize instruction and share best practices. Incorporated lessons from early operational assessments to inform training and force development. "Counter-UAS does not start or stop at the fence line, and it is not as simple as procuring a single piece of hardware," Ross said. "It requires layered defenses, informed operators, and the right [policies] and processes to move at the speed of the threat. What we have focused on in the first six months is building an integrated approach that brings together capability, policy, training and people, so the joint force is better prepared whenever and wherever unmanned threats appear." Next Focus Areas As JIATF 401 enters its next six months, the task force will continue to apply its delivery-focused approach to emerging and high-visibility requirements, including support to interagency and joint efforts associated with the World Cup and America 250. Photo Details / Download Hi-Res These events reinforce the need for scalable, integrated counter-UAS capabilities that support homeland defense, joint coordination and preparedness at national scale, Ross said. Up next, JIATF 401 is hosting its first industry day, March 5 in Alexandria, Virginia.