U.S. Army Adds Allies to Counter-Drone Hub

Polish, Romanian, and U.S. troops instructed on running through the start-up sequence on a Counter-Unmanned Aerial System near Lipa, Poland on November 07, 2025 | Photo: U.S. Army/Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Kohrs, 10th AAMDC

The Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) 401 is expanding international access to counter-drone systems while also increasing procurement of drone interception technologies through new agreements and a major contract award intended to strengthen counter-unmanned aerial system capabilities across U.S. and allied forces.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll recently signed agreements with leaders from Australia, Poland and South Korea that allow those countries to procure Counter-small Unmanned Aerial System (Counter-sUAS) technologies through the JIATF 401 drone defense marketplace. The agreements expand access for partner nations seeking systems designed to address emerging drone threats.

According to the Pentagon, JIATF 401 coordinates counter-small UAS efforts across military and interagency organizations. The marketplace is intended to connect governments and users with counter-drone technologies designed for use across coalition networks and military operations.

The latest agreements follow similar arrangements with the United Kingdom and Romania. Officials said the effort aims to improve interoperability and create a broader network of countries using compatible counter-drone systems.

Major Matt Mellor, lead acquisitions specialist for JIATF 401, said the organization seeks to combine demand from multiple countries for such technologies.

“This partnership gives our allies and partners direct access to proven counter-drone technologies as we continue to expand the marketplace,” said Major Matt Mellor, Lead Acquisitions Specialist, JIATF 401. “Our mission includes working with international partners to aggregate demand for counter-drone capabilities.”

Separately, JIATF 401 announced the award of a three-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract with a ceiling value of $500 million to Perennial Autonomy for Counter-UAS systems.

The contract includes artificial intelligence-enabled systems such as Merops drone interceptors, Bumblebee quadcopters and Hornet midrange strike drones. According to the announcement, these systems are being used by forces operating in U.S. Central Command.

The systems combine detection, tracking and engagement functions using computer vision, radio frequency sensing, communications systems resistant to jamming and autonomous targeting technologies. Human operators remain responsible for decisions involving the use of lethal force.

U.S. Army Brigadier General Matt Ross, Director, Joint Interagency Task Force 401, said the initiatives support broader counter-drone efforts.

“We are continuing to expand the market for [counter-small UAS],” said Brigadier General Matt Ross. “We understand that our allies and partners want to purchase American-made counter-drone technologies. The JIATF 401 marketplace helps aggregate that demand, ensuring our defense industrial base is ready to scale production and meet the growing needs of our coalition.”