Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth established Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and disestablished the Joint Counter-small UAS Office created in 2020.
• The task force director will hold acquisition authority and must submit unfunded fiscal 2026 requirements within 30 days.
• Initial stand-up steps include recruiting a technical lead and four service personnel, securing Pentagon office space within five days, and delivering a full Army implementation plan in 30 days with monthly updates.
• The under secretary of defense for research and engineering has 30 days to recommend a designated counter-drone test and training range.
• JIATF 401 will integrate Replicator 2 efforts as services continue their own fielding, including Marine Corps squad-level systems, with an Army official saying the new body can better coordinate and compel participation.