Feds Strike Deal to Speed Up Drone-Killing Tech Approvals

Five major federal departments have signed a new interagency agreement to streamline the approval and deployment of counter-drone systems. The Departments of Transportation, War, Homeland Security, Energy, and Justice, led by a White House task force, will now follow a common safety review process coordinated by the FAA and FCC.

The deal means agencies will share technical data and testing results, allowing the FAA to assess risks to other aircraft faster. The key benefit is that once a counter-drone system is evaluated, future deployments for similar uses could be reviewed in as little as 24 hours, a significant acceleration from previous timelines. This is a major step toward faster defensive responses to drone threats while maintaining aviation safety standards.