§199 Joint Interagency Task Force 401

Summary

Creates a joint unit inside the Department of Defense called Joint Interagency Task Force 401. The Secretary of Defense must pick a Director from DoD staff who is either a general/flag officer of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force, or a Senior Executive Service member. The Director reports to the Deputy Secretary of Defense and advises the Deputy Secretary and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on counter-small unmanned aircraft system (counter-sUAS) issues. The Task Force will be jointly staffed and may set up smaller units as needed under the Secretary’s authority. The Task Force must lead and coordinate DoD efforts to stop small unmanned aircraft used as weapons, bring together counter-sUAS solutions across the Department and with other agencies, create and share training and tactics, and manage testing, evaluation, procurement, and a strategic plan for counter-sUAS. It is the main office that validates and approves counter-sUAS systems for DoD use and keeps a vetted list of approved systems. DoD groups may not buy a counter-sUAS unless it is on that list, unless a service acquisition executive or the Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment waives that rule and notifies congressional defense committees with reasons. The Task Force must have an acquisition division to help budget, integrate, and field approved capabilities. Each year the Director must report to congressional defense committees on activities, progress, metrics, and recommendations. Definitions: counter-sUAS system (a device that can legally and safely disable, disrupt, or take control of a small unmanned aircraft), covered armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force), and the small unmanned aircraft terms use the meanings in 49 U.S.C. 44801.