Washington: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced late Thursday that he has directed Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll to formally establish a joint, interagency task force to counter hostile unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones. "Our job here at the Pentagon - when you think about it - is to prepare for the threats of the future and build a force to match them, and defeat them, and outpace them," Hegseth said via a video message released to the public. "And there's no doubt that the threats we face today from hostile drones grow by the day," he added.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Hegseth noted that hostile UASs are being operated overseas and at the borders while seeking to harm U.S. warfighters, bases, and even the sovereignty of the national airspace. He stated that the new task force - Joint Interagency Task Force 401 - will be a unified team that aims to bring together the best talent from multiple government agencies to counter UAS threats and restore control of the skies. "It's called counter-UAS - counter-unmanned aerial systems - and America will be the best at it," Hegseth said.
Although the secretary did not comment on the estimated length of time before the task force will be operational, he mentioned that the Pentagon is currently moving quickly to cut through bureaucracy and consolidate resources, empowering it with "the utmost authority to outpace our adversaries." He emphasized that his department is working to deliver real solutions and ensure American airspace remains secure at home, abroad, and anywhere troops are stationed.
Hegseth expressed that they deserve to be defended by the best, adding that the new task force will provide the right tools to warfighters so they can defend the sovereignty of American airspace and "send a clear message" that the United States will "never be outmatched." He concluded by stating, "Because, make no mistake, under this administration - and President [Donald J.] Trump's leadership - we're going to out-innovate, we're going to lead and we will win."