Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Strategy
The Department of Defense (DoD) is facing new risks due to the exponential growth of small unmanned air systems (sUAS). Technology trends are dramatically changing legitimate applications of sUAS while simultaneously making them more capable weapons in the hands of state actors, non-state actors, and criminals. When careless operators operate, small UAS could pose dangers to DoD operations on the ground, air, and maritime domains. The Department must defend personnel, assets, and facilities in an environment where increasing numbers of sUAS share the skies with DoD planes, operate in DoD airspace, and are used by our Nation's enemies.
The Department first emphasized using and deploying government and commercially manufactured materials to address this challenge. However, it led to many redundant, non-integrated solutions. While the initial approach met short-term needs, it created challenges that made the Department unable to keep up with the constantly changing problem. To address these issues, the DoD needs a Department-wide, holistic strategy to counter sUAS dangers and threats.
In November 2019, the Secretary of Defense designated the Secretary of the Army (SECARMY) as the DoD Executive Agent (EA) for Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS, unmanned aircraft groups 1, 2, and 3). As EA, the SECARMY created the Joint C-sUAS Office (JCO), which will coordinate, direct, and lead C-sUAS activities across the Department.
The DoD C–sUAS strategy provides the framework to address sUAS in all its forms, including threat, hazard, and the host nation. To achieve three strategic goals, stakeholders from departments will collaborate to reach them.
(1) Enhance the Joint Force through innovation, and collaboration to protect DoD personnel and assets in the homeland, host countries, and contingency areas;
(2) Develop materiel- and non-materiel solutions to facilitate safe and secure executions of DoD missions and deny adversaries the power to impede our goals;
(3) Strengthen and diversify our relationships with allies to help us protect our interests both at home as well as abroad.
The Department will address these goals using three lines of effort: Ready Force, Defend Force, and Build Team. DoD will use a risk-based approach and maximize existing C-sUAS capabilities to Ready the Force. This will allow for efficient and rapid development and deployment of various non-materiel and materiel solutions to meet emerging needs. DoD will coordinate the delivery of joint capabilities supported by DOTMLPF–P consideration to Defend Force and synchronize the creation of operational concepts and doctrine. DoD is the preferred global military partner and will continue to build the Team through its existing relationships, new partnerships, and increased information sharing to meet future challenges.
This strategy will allow the Department to effectively address the problems posed by hazard and threat sUAS within the U.S., in host countries, and contingency sites. These diverse operating environments will provide commanders with the tools to defend DoD personnel, facilities, and assets from future and current sUAS threats.
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