§199 Joint Interagency Task Force 401

Summary

Creates a Joint Interagency Task Force 401 inside the Department of Defense to lead and coordinate all DoD actions against small drones used as weapons. The Secretary of Defense must pick a Director from senior DoD leaders (general or flag officers or members of the Senior Executive Service). 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-drone matters. The Task Force is jointly staffed by the services and can set up units the Director thinks are needed, under the Secretary’s control. The Task Force must unify counter-drone work across the Department. It will develop plans, training, tactics, and both kinetic and non-kinetic ways to stop small drones. It has the main job of validating and approving counter-drone systems for DoD use and keeping a list of approved systems. DoD parts cannot buy a counter-drone system unless the Task Force approves it and it’s on the list, unless a service acquisition executive or the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment issues a one-time waiver and tells the congressional defense committees with an explanation. The Director must run an acquisition division with service acquisition professionals to help budget, integrate, sustain, and field approved systems. Each year the Director must report to the 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, and Space Force; terms for small unmanned aircraft follow the definitions in 49 U.S.C. 44801.