References in Text
The date of the enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsec. (i), is the date of enactment of [Pub. L. 119–60], which was approved Dec. 18, 2025.
The Presidential Protection Assistance Act of 1976, referred to in subsec. (m)(4)(A)(iii)(IV), is [Pub. L. 94–524], Oct. 17, 1976, [90 Stat. 2475], which enacted and amended provisions set out as notes under section 3056 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (a). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(1)], substituted “section 32, 1030, or 1367 or chapter 119 or 206 of title 18” for “any provision of title 18” and a comma for “and” after “officers”, and inserted “, and contractors” after “civilian employees”.
Subsec. (b)(1)(B). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(2)], inserted “, including through the use of remote identification broadcast or other means” after “electromagnetic means”.
Subsec. (c). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(3)], designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).
Subsec. (d)(2)(C). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(4)(A)], added subpar. (C).
Subsec. (d)(3). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(4)(B)], added par. (3).
Subsec. (e)(1). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(5)(A)], substituted a comma for “or” before “acquisition” and “amendments” for “amendment”, and inserted “, maintenance, or use” after “acquisition” and “first and” before “fourth”.
Subsec. (e)(2). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(5)(B)], substituted “an action described in subsection (b)(1)” for “a function of the Department of Defense”.
Subsec. (e)(3). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(5)(C)(i)], in introductory provisions, substituted “maintained only for as long as necessary, and in no event maintained” for “not maintained”.
Subsec. (e)(3)(A). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(5)(C)(ii)], substituted “investigate or prosecute a violation of law or to directly support an ongoing security operation” for “support one or more functions of the Department of Defense”.
Subsec. (e)(3)(B). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(5)(C)(iii)], substituted “under Federal law or for the purpose of any litigation” for “for a longer period to support a civilian law enforcement agency or by any other applicable law or regulation”.
Subsec. (e)(4)(A). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(6)(A)], added subpar. (A) and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: “would fulfill a function of the Department of Defense;”.
Subsec. (e)(4)(C), (D). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(6)(B)]–(D), added subpar. (C) and redesignated former subpar. (C) as (D).
Subsecs. (f), (g). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(10)], (11), added subsec. (f) and redesignated former subsec. (f) as (g). Former subsec. (g) redesignated (h).
Subsec. (h). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(12)(A)], substituted “Reports” for “Briefings” in heading.
[Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(10)], redesignated subsec. (g) as (h). Former subsec. (h) redesignated (j).
Subsec. (h)(1) to (3). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(12)(B)]–(D), substituted “2026” for “2018” and “shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and publish on a publicly available website a report summarizing all detection and mitigation activities conducted under this section during the previous year to counter unmanned aircraft systems.” for “and the Secretary of Transportation, shall jointly provide a briefing to the appropriate congressional committees on the activities carried out pursuant to this section. Such briefings shall include—”; inserted “(2) Each report under paragraph (1) shall include—” before subpar. (A); redesignated former par. (2) as (3); and, in par. (3) as redesignated, substituted “and shall” for “but may”.
Subsec. (i). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(8)], (13), added subsec. (i) and struck out former subsec. (i), which terminated, on Dec. 31, 2026, authority to carry out this section with respect to certain covered facilities or assets.
Subsec. (j). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(9)], redesignated subsec. (h) as (j). Former subsec. (j) redesignated (m).
Subsecs. (k), (l). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(14)], added subsecs. (k) and (l).
Subsec. (m). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(15)], which directed amendment of “subsection (m)(3)” of this section, as redesignated by [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(7)], was executed by making the following amendments to subsec. (m) as redesignated by [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(7)], to reflect the probable intent of Congress: adding par. (3); redesignating former pars. (3) to (6) as (4) to (7), respectively; and, in par. (4) as so redesignated, substituting “covered facility or asset—” for “ ‘covered facility or asset’ means any facility or asset that—” in introductory provisions, redesignating subpars. (A) to (C) as cls. (i) to (iii), respectively, inserting “(A) means any facility or asset that—” before cl. (i), as so redesignated, redesignating cls. (i) to (ix) of former subpar. (C) as subcls. (I) to (IX), respectively, of cl. (iii) and adding subcl. (X) at end of cl. (iii), and adding subpar. (B).
[Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(7)], redesignated subsec. (j) as (m).
Subsec. (n). [Pub. L. 119–60, § 1707(16)], added subsec. (n).
2024—Subsec. (j)(3)(C)(ix). [Pub. L. 118–159, § 2871(c)(1)], which directed substitution of “section 4173” for “sections 4173(i)”, was executed by making the substitution for “section 4173(i)”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the intervening amendment by [Pub. L. 118–159, § 1701(a)(2)]. See below and see [section 1701(h) of Pub. L. 118–159], set out as a Coordination of Certain Sections of an Act With Other Provisions of That Act under section 101 of this title.
[Pub. L. 118–159, § 1701(a)(2)], substituted “section” for “sections”.
2023—Subsec. (i). [Pub. L. 118–31] substituted “2026” for “2023” in pars. (1) and (2).
2021—Subsec. (i)(1). [Pub. L. 116–283, § 1081(a)(8)(A)], substituted “of subsection (j)(3)(C) shall” for “of subsection (j)(3)(C) shall”, resulting in no change in text. See 2019 Amendment notes and Coordination of Amendments by [Pub. L. 116–92] note below.
Subsec. (j)(3)(C)(ix). [Pub. L. 116–283, § 1845(c)(4)], substituted “sections 4173(i)” for “section 196(i)”.
Subsec. (j)(6). [Pub. L. 116–283, § 1081(a)(8)(B)], inserted a period at end.
2019—Subsec. (i). [Pub. L. 116–92, § 1694(a)], substituted “2023” for “2020” in two places.
Subsec. (i)(1). [Pub. L. 116–92, § 1731(a)(6)(A)], inserted “(C)” after “subsection (j)(3)”.
[Pub. L. 116–92, § 1694(b)(1)], which directed substitution of “of subsection (j)(3)(C)” for “of subsection (j)(3)”, resulted in no change in text because of prior execution of amendment by [Pub. L. 116–92, § 1731(a)(6)(A)]. See Amendment note above and Coordination of Amendments by [Pub. L. 116–92] note below.
Subsec. (j)(6). [Pub. L. 116–92, § 1731(a)(6)(B)], substituted “44802” for “40101”.
[Pub. L. 116–92, § 1694(b)(2)], substituted “in section 44801 of title 49” for “in section 331 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 ([Public Law 112–95]; 49 U.S.C. 44802 note).”
2017—[Pub. L. 115–91] amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to protection of certain facilities and assets from unmanned aircraft and consisted of provisions relating to authority of Secretary of Defense, authorized actions, forfeiture, regulations, and definitions.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2021 Amendment
Amendment by [section 1845(c)(4) of Pub. L. 116–283] effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see [section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283], set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.
Pilot Program on Enhanced Use of Advanced Sensor Networks To Improve Air Force Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Capabilities for Base Defense
[Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title X, § 1088], Dec. 18, 2025, [139 Stat. 1059], provided that:“(a)
Establishment.—
Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [
Dec. 18, 2025], the Secretary of the Air Force, in coordination with the Director of the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 established under
section 199 of title 10, United States Code, as added by section 912, and in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, shall carry out a pilot program, to be known as the ‘Enhancing Cooperation for Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program’, under which the Secretary shall incorporate the use of civilian civil airspace sensor networks into Air Force data processing systems to—
“(1)
improve base defense against small unmanned aircraft systems (in this section referred to as ‘sUAS’);
“(2)
inform the development of counter-unmanned aircraft system capabilities that are suitable for use inside the United States and in the National Airspace System; and
“(3)
enhance cooperation with law enforcement, State and local partners, and other Federal departments and agencies to counter domestic threats.
“(b)
Locations.—
The Secretary, in coordination with the Director and in consultation with the Administrator, shall select at least two military installations located in the United States at which to conduct the pilot program. In selecting such military installations, the Secretary shall consider the potential for the Air Force to—
“(1)
access advanced civilian airspace sensor networks;
“(2)
leverage public-private partnerships that enable multi-use of airspace awareness capabilities for public safety, defense of critical infrastructure to include Department of Defense installations, and protection of civil aviation; and
“(3)
minimize the potential for negatively affecting civil aircraft operations in the National Airspace System.
“(c)
Objectives.—
The objectives of the pilot program are—
“(1)
to provide the Air Force with access to air space awareness data derived from civilian airspace sensor networks to increase the situational awareness of Air Force bases;
“(2)
to determine any authority, capability, and capacity barriers to enhancing cooperation between the Air Force, civilian partners, and other Federal, State, and local government entities to extend the over-the-horizon identification of potential sUAS threats beyond the current range of existing domestic base defense systems; and
“(3)
to improve the data-sharing frameworks for airspace data between the Air Force and various stakeholders for the purpose of base defense.
“(d)
Contract Authority.—
In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary of the Air Force may enter into one or more contracts for the procurement of additional technologies capable of—
“(1)
leveraging commercial or Government off-the-shelf detect-track-defeat systems;
“(2)
integrating and using civilian airspace awareness data to serve as an early warning capability specifically to help identify and monitor non-compliant sUAS; and
“(3)
informing appropriate communication mechanisms between military installations and local law enforcement agencies to report and track non-compliant air vehicles, deter incursions, and foster potential prosecution.
“(e)
Briefings.—
Not later than 90 days after the conclusion of all activities carried out under the pilot program at an installation selected for such program, the Secretary shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing that includes a description of—
“(1)
the manner in which the program was conducted at such installation; and
“(2)
any results achieved under the program at such installation.
“(f)
Termination.—
“(1)
In general.—
The authority to carry out a pilot program under this section shall terminate on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
“(2)
Early termination option.—
The Secretary of the Air Force may request the termination of the pilot program before the date specified in paragraph (1) if the Secretary—
“(A)
determines that administrative, legal, performance, or other factors indicate the program will not be successful; and
“(B)
submits to the appropriate congressional committees notice in writing of such determination.
“(g)
Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.—
In this section, the term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means—
“(1)
the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and
“(2)
the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.”
Pilot Program and Other Requirements for Accelerating Protection of Certain Facilities and Assets From Unmanned Aircraft
[Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title X, § 1089], Dec. 18, 2025, [139 Stat. 1060], provided that:“(a)
Requirements.—
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [
Dec. 18, 2025], the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 established under
section 199 of title 10, United States Code, as added by section 912, shall ensure that for each covered facility or asset at which the Secretary has determined counter-UAS operations are necessary to mitigate the threat that an unmanned aircraft system poses to the safety or security of such covered facility or asset—
“(1)
any administrative action required for the effective use of the authorities under
section 130i of title 10, United States Code, for the protection of the covered facility or asset not contingent upon action by another Federal department or agency has been completed, including the establishment of appropriate policies for the training of relevant personnel upon the deployment of new counter-UAS systems, annual training, and training for newly assigned personnel;
“(2)
any such training required for the safe or effective use of counter-UAS systems for such protection has been completed; and
“(3)
planning to deploy and sustain systems similar to those procured pursuant to the pilot program under subsection (b) in a manner appropriate for the covered facility or asset has commenced.
“(b)
Pilot Program for Deployment of Certain Counter-UAS Systems.—
“(1)
Pilot program.—
The Secretary, acting through the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 established under
section 199 of title 10, United States Code, as added by section 912, and in coordination with the Administrator as required by
section 130i of title 10, United States Code, shall carry out a pilot program for the deployment of covered counter-UAS systems to expeditiously demonstrate enhanced protective capabilities for certain covered facilities or assets (in this subsection, referred to as the ‘pilot program’).
“(2)
Elements.—
Under the pilot program, the Secretary shall—
“(A)
not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, select and procure covered counter-UAS systems for deployment for the protection of at least four covered facilities or assets identified for purposes of the pilot program;
“(B)
not later than 240 days after the date of the enactment of this Act submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report on any delays caused by interagency coordination requirements, particularly delays related to site surveys by other agencies; and
“(C)
not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, ensure such covered counter-UAS systems are so deployed with respect to each such identified covered facility or asset.
“(c)
Coordination Required.—
The Secretary shall carry out this section consistent with the requirements of
section 130i of title 10, United States Code.
“(d)
Briefings.—
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 60 days thereafter until the date on which each requirement under this section is complete, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, shall provide to the congressional defense committees and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a briefing on the implementation of this section.
“(e)
Definitions.—
In this section:
“(1)
The term ‘Administrator’ means the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
“(2)
The terms ‘counter-UAS system’ and ‘small unmanned aircraft’ have the meanings given those terms in
section 44801 of title 49, United States Code.
“(3)
The term ‘covered counter-UAS system’ means a counter-UAS system that—
“(A)
is capable of destroying or disabling a small unmanned aircraft by means of high-powered microwave, laser, or other similar technology; and
“(B)
may be integrated with appropriate sensing and command-and-control systems.
“(4)
The term ‘covered facility or asset’ means a facility or asset with respect to which there is authority to carry out
section 130i of title 10, United States Code, for the protection of the facility or asset.
Counter Unmanned Aerial System Threat Library
[Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title III, § 353], Dec. 23, 2024, [138 Stat. 1858], as amended by [Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title IX, § 912(d)], Dec. 18, 2025, [139 Stat. 1018], provided that:“(a)
In General.—
Not later than June 30, 2027, the Director of the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 shall establish and maintain a threat library, or expand and maintain an existing threat library, to coordinate efforts across the Department of Defense to counter unmanned aircraft systems.
“(b)
Information To Be Included.—
The threat library required under subsection (a) shall include—
“(1)
classified and unclassified information relating to known or suspected threats from unmanned aircraft systems;
“(2)
proposed solutions for countering such known threats; and
“(3)
a comprehensive listing of global incursions from unmanned aircraft systems at installations of the Department of Defense.
“(c)
Dissemination.—
The Director of the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 shall establish a framework to share the information contained in the threat library required under subsection (a) with the military departments, the combatant commands, other Federal agencies, and relevant industries, as determined by the Director, in order to maintain technological superiority in aerial defense.”
Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems Task Force
[Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title IX, § 925], Dec. 23, 2024, [138 Stat. 2041], provided that:“(a)
In General.—
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2024], the Secretary of Defense shall establish, or designate from existing organizations and personnel of the Department of Defense, a counter unmanned aerial systems task force, to be known as the ‘C-UAS Task Force’.
“(b)
Review of Memoranda and Directives.—
“(1)
In general.—
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, acting through the C-UAS Task Force, shall review and, if necessary, consolidate and update all Department of Defense memoranda and directives related to the countering of unmanned aircraft systems in United States airspace to provide clarity to and an expedited decision-making process for commanders with respect to effectively countering unmanned aircraft systems or unmanned aircraft incursions at military installations in the United States.
“(2)
Included memoranda and directives.—
The memoranda and directives required to be reviewed and, if necessary, consolidated and updated under paragraph (1) include the following:
“(A)
The Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Strategy of the Department of Defense, dated January 7, 2021.
“(B)
The Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum entitled ‘Risk-based Assessment in Support of Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Activities to Protect DOD Facilities and Assets’ and dated May 7, 2020.
“(C)
Deputy Secretary of Defense Policy Memorandum 16–003, entitled ‘Interim Guidance for Countering Unmanned Aircraft’ and dated August 18, 2016.
“(D)
Deputy Secretary of Defense Policy Memorandum 17–00X, entitled ‘Supplemental Guidance for Countering Unmanned Aircraft’ and dated July 5, 2017.
“(E)
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Notice 3124, entitled ‘Interim Guidance for Countering Unmanned Aircraft’ and dated February 8, 2017.
“(F)
Other related general administrative notices of the Joint Staff.
“(G)
Any other associated memoranda or directives of the Department of Defense relating to unmanned aircraft systems, as the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff determine necessary.
“(c)
Issuance of Updated Guidance.—
“(1)
In general.—
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall issue new memoranda, directives, and guidance related to authorities to counter unmanned aircraft systems.
“(2)
Dissemination to installation commanders.—
The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that memoranda, directives, and guidance issued under paragraph (1), and any subsequent memoranda, directives and guidance, are included in pre-briefings for any officers that assume command of a military installation in the United States on or after July 1, 2025.
“(3)
Standard operating procedures for military installations.—
“(A)
In general.—
Not later than 60 days after the issuance of the memoranda, directives, and guidance required by paragraph (1), each commander of a military installation shall issue operating procedures specific to their military installation for countering unmanned aircraft systems at the installation.
“(B)
Extension during changes in command.—
If there is a change of command of a military installation during the 60-day period described in subparagraph (A), the incoming commander of the installation shall issue operating procedures specific to their military installation required by that subparagraph not later than 60 days after receiving the pre-briefing described in paragraph (2).
“(d)
Report on Existing Training Efforts.—
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report on the counter-unmanned aircraft systems training efforts of the Department of Defense in effect as of the date of the enactment of this Act. The report shall include—
“(1)
a description of any training that is commonly provided to members of the Armed Forces on countering threats posed by unmanned aircraft systems; and
“(2)
a summary of the training curriculum that is provided for installation commanders and deployed forces to counter unmanned aircraft systems.”
Assessment and Strategy for Fielding Capabilities To Counter Threats Posed by Unmanned Aerial System Swarms
[Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title I, § 162], Dec. 23, 2022, [136 Stat. 2462], provided that:“(a)
Assessment, Analysis, and Review.—
The Secretary of Defense shall conduct—
“(1)
an assessment of the threats posed by unmanned aerial system swarms and unmanned aerial systems with swarm capabilities to installations and deployed Armed Forces;
“(2)
an analysis of the use or potential use of unmanned aerial system swarms by adversaries, including the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, and non-state actors;
“(3)
an analysis of the national security implications of swarming technologies such as autonomous intelligence and machine learning;
“(4)
a review of the capabilities used by the Department of Defense to counter threats posed by unmanned aerial systems and an assessment of the effectiveness of such capabilities at countering the threat of unmanned aerial system swarms; and
“(5)
an overview of the efforts of the Department of Defense to develop and field test technologies that offer scalable, modular, and rapidly deployable capabilities with the ability to counter unmanned aerial system swarms.
“(b)
Strategy Development and Implementation Required.—
“(1)
In general.—
The Secretary of Defense shall develop and implement a strategy to field capabilities to counter threats posed by unmanned aerial system swarms.
“(2)
Elements.—
The strategy required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:
“(A)
The development of a comprehensive definition of ‘unmanned aerial system swarm’.
“(B)
A plan to establish and incorporate requirements for the development, testing, and fielding of technologies and capabilities to counter unmanned aerial system swarms.
“(C)
A plan to acquire and field adequate capabilities to counter unmanned aerial system swarms in defense of the Armed Forces, infrastructure, and other assets of the United States across land, air, and maritime domains.
“(D)
An estimate of the resources needed by each Armed Force to implement the strategy.
“(E)
An analysis, determination, and prioritization of legislative action required to ensure the Department of Defense has the ability to counter the threats posed by unmanned aerial system swarms.
“(F)
Such other matters as the Secretary determines to be relevant to the strategy.
“(3)
Incorporation into existing strategy.—
The Secretary of Defense may incorporate the strategy required by paragraph (1) into a comprehensive strategy of the Department of Defense to counter the threat of unmanned aerial systems.
“(c)
Information to Congress.—
Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2022], the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report on—
“(1)
the findings of the Secretary under subsection (a); and
“(2)
the strategy developed and implemented by the Secretary under subsection (b).”
Coordination of Amendments by [Pub. L. 116–92]
Amendments to this section by [section 1731 of Pub. L. 116–92] to be treated as having been enacted immediately before amendments by other provisions of [Pub. L. 116–92], see [section 1731(f) of Pub. L. 116–92], set out as a Coordination of Certain Sections of an Act With Other Provisions of That Act note under section 101 of this title.