1. Executive Summary
This report analyzes the structural evolution, strategic doctrine, and evaluation inventory of Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401) and its integration of “Red-Air” small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) training methodologies. Established in August 2025 to replace the Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO), JIATF 401 operates as the central authority for counter-drone requirements, testing, acquisition, training, and threat analysis across military, federal, and domestic security environments1.
The speed, scale, and complexity of the small drone threat have outpaced traditional defense acquisition models, prompting the military to systematically reorganize its command structures1. In July 2026, JIATF 401 transitioned under the oversight of the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS), a centralized command structure reporting directly to the Deputy Secretary of Defense3. Concurrently, JIATF 401 formalized a new counter-UAS (C-UAS) doctrine via the July 2026 publication, Small Drones, Big Problems, prioritizing layered defense, non-kinetic mitigation, and physical protection over immediate kinetic intercepts6.
To validate emerging C-UAS platforms, JIATF 401 and affiliated commands, such as the Point Defense Battle Lab (PDBL), developed a specialized “Red-Air” adversary emulation program8. This program utilizes commercial and custom-built Group 1 and 2 UAS, notably platforms from Dracoe and DJI, equipped with automated flight software to simulate intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and one-way attack threat profiles11. Against this Red-Air inventory, JIATF 401 evaluates and fields acquisition portfolios. These include Perennial Autonomy’s kinetic interceptors (Bumblebee V2, Merops, Hornet) and AeroVironment’s AI-powered sensor architectures (Titan MS)14. Through operational assessments across sites like Fort Benning, Fort Bragg, and Camp Guernsey, the Department of War is demonstrating an accelerated acquisition cycle, transitioning battlefield technologies directly to domestic force protection elements2.
2. Institutional Framework and Command Restructuring
2.1 The Mandate and Evolution of JIATF 401
JIATF 401 was established to mitigate the operational challenges posed by modern sUAS threats, which commercial innovation, software iteration, and battlefield adaptation have accelerated beyond the capacity of traditional defense procurement cycles1. The task force’s primary metric of effectiveness is the rapid delivery of joint C-sUAS capabilities to the warfighter2. The necessity for a centralized interagency command was catalyzed by data from the Ukraine conflict and operations in the Middle East. During the initial phase of Operation Epic Fury, Iranian Shahed-136 variants accounted for 66% of adversary counterattack operations7. Furthermore, data indicates that while only an estimated 20% to 40% of First-Person View (FPV) drones reach their targets in Ukraine, they are responsible for 60% to 70% of damaged or destroyed systems and up to 80% of casualties7. The January 2024 drone attack on Tower 22 in Jordan highlighted gaps in warning, training, defensive equipment, and threat identification, solidifying the need for an enterprise-wide C-UAS response22.
2.2 Integration into the DRPM-UxS Architecture
In July 2026, the Department of War restructured its autonomous systems acquisition framework, establishing the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS)3. The DRPM-UxS serves as the single joint integrator for unmanned and autonomous system programs across all domains, subsuming both JIATF 401 and the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG)4. Under this directive, the Director of JIATF 401 was granted expanded authority for countering all drone systems regardless of domain, advancing beyond the initial small-UAS mandate4.
This structural alignment bridges offensive autonomous development and defensive C-UAS strategies. The DRPM-UxS holds Milestone Decision Authority over its portfolio, enabling the office to bypass conventional defense acquisition bottlenecks, halt the fielding of unready systems, and direct military contracting activities4. The authority extends to setting joint technical standards, including Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) and Open Mission Systems/Universal Command and Control Interface (OMS/UCI) standards23. The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) was designated as the primary industry engagement interface for programs within the DRPM-UxS portfolio4.
The centralization is supported by significant financial authorization. The FY2027 budget request includes $20.6 billion for Counter-Unmanned Systems, tightly coupled with a $14.4 billion mandatory funding request for the Drone Dominance initiative, which aims to procure 200,000 domestically manufactured drones by 202721.

2.3 Command Interoperability and Marketplace Expansion
To standardize the procurement of C-UAS technologies, JIATF 401 manages a digital marketplace hosting over 1,600 pre-approved components, sensors, and software elements25. The DRPM-UxS assumes ultimate governance and data standard enforcement over this marketplace23. The marketplace serves domestic federal agencies and extends capabilities to allied forces. In April 2026, agreements were signed to allow partner nations, including Romania and the United Kingdom, to procure C-UAS technologies directly through the JIATF 401 marketplace, moving toward an objective of integrating 25 partner nations into a shared defensive ecosystem27.
3. Strategic Doctrine: Small Drones, Big Problems
To standardize C-UAS responses across disparate agencies, JIATF 401 released a foundational handbook on July 9, 2026, titled Small Drones, Big Problems: A First Principles Approach to Countering-UAS6. The publication serves as a common-vocabulary bridge for military, federal law enforcement, and critical infrastructure stakeholders, packaging direct feedback from warfighters to establish operational baselines6.
3.1 Historical Context and Baseline Assumptions
The doctrine approaches the proliferation of sUAS as a familiar cycle of technological disruption in warfare. The handbook compares the rise of modern battlefield drones to the initial deployment of German U-boats during World War II; both served as highly effective hunters and terror weapons that temporarily paralyzed adversaries until new defensive tactics were normalized31. The task force emphasizes that no single breakthrough technology or “silver bullet” will neutralize the drone threat; rather, mitigation requires accumulated adaptation, non-kinetic measures, and layered defense29.
3.2 The Four Ps and Five Ds
The handbook avoids strictly technical taxonomies in favor of actionable operational frameworks30.
The “Four Ps” (Person, Platform, Process, Payload) provide a methodology to disaggregate a drone threat into actionable components, forcing defenders to analyze the entire operational chain rather than fixating solely on the aircraft15. By understanding the process (command and control) and the person (operator location), defenders can target vulnerabilities in the operational loop15.
The “Five Ds” (Detect, Deny, Disrupt, Defeat, Discipline) outline a sequential response hierarchy. The doctrine explicitly argues that kinetic destruction (“Defeat”) is the least preferred option15. Denying targeting visibility and disrupting command links are prioritized due to resource constraints and the asymmetric cost advantage of adversary drones15. The framework establishes that shooting down a drone is often the least valuable outcome, as denial and disruption can neutralize a drone’s operational payload even when the airframe survives30.
3.3 Terrain and Multidimensional Defense
The doctrine introduces a multidomain definition of “terrain,” emphasizing that the physical environment, electromagnetic spectrum, and network connectivity must be modeled simultaneously15. Sensor placement, radio frequency (RF) propagation, and network latency directly influence detection timelines; failing to model these overlapping terrains results in critical operational delays6.
JIATF 401 advocates for physical obscuration and extended standoff principles, arguing that localized perimeters do not end at facility fence lines34. Defenses must expand outward to disrupt adversary ground control stations. The handbook details the necessity of structural shielding, overhead netting or tensioned cables over high-risk areas, and visual clutter to deny targeting data to incoming ISR and FPV drones12. The underlying principle is that if a drone cannot easily identify targets, its effectiveness drops sharply, effectively rendering low-cost platforms useless without requiring kinetic engagement12.
4. The Red-Air Adversary Emulation Framework
To validate C-sUAS platforms and passive defense tactics in realistic environments, the military has adapted the “Red-Air” concept—traditionally used in fighter pilot training—to the sUAS threat matrix9. These Red-Air elements emulate the behaviors of state and non-state actors utilizing Group 1 and 2 drones, presenting realistic target sets for defending forces9.
4.1 Point Defense Battle Lab (PDBL)
A primary node for Red-Air operations is the Air Combat Command’s Point Defense Battle Lab (PDBL), operated by the 319th Reconnaissance Wing at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota8. The PDBL serves as a hub for developing tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for installation point defense8.
In April 2026, the PDBL initiated dedicated Red-Air pilot competitions to train Airmen as aggressor sUAS operators10. Pilots undergo weeks of simulator and hands-on flight training across search and rescue, waypoint navigation, and high-speed agility courses to accurately replicate evasive adversary maneuvers10. These Red-Air operators are subsequently leveraged for capability evaluations and combat readiness inspections, forcing base defenders to react to dynamic, human-piloted threats rather than static targets37.
4.2 Non-Kinetic Validation: VAPOR 26.1
The integration of Red-Air capabilities was prominently featured during the Valuable Asset Protection Operations Rehearsal (VAPOR 26.1) held at the Avon Park Air Force Test Range in March and April 202613. Executed jointly by the 184th Wing’s PDBL-Kansas and the 319th Reconnaissance Wing’s PDBL-North Dakota, the exercise focused exclusively on evaluating non-kinetic, passive defense measures13.
During the exercise, Red-Air operators flew over 300 sorties utilizing Group 1-3 sUAS to replicate the capabilities of hobbyist, informed, and state-level actors13. Ground forces deployed commercial-off-the-shelf non-kinetic technologies to obstruct visual, infrared, and thermal reconnaissance13. By employing camouflage, concealment, deception, and hardening techniques, the defenders forced the Red-Air pilots to expend more time searching, thereby degrading their targeting confidence and validating the non-kinetic principles outlined in the Small Drones, Big Problems handbook13.
5. Red-Air Target and Emulation Inventory
The analytical validity of JIATF 401’s C-UAS testing relies on the quality and behavior of its simulated targets. The evaluation inventory utilizes specific, low-cost commercial and military-grade sUAS to mimic current battlefield threats, specifically Iranian Shahed variants and ubiquitous commercial quadcopters16.
5.1 Dracoe Target Management Systems
During JIATF 401 operational assessments, the task force extensively utilizes quadcopters produced by Dracoe, a North Carolina-based defense manufacturer11. Dracoe provides National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)-compliant UAS platforms paired with a proprietary flight software management system12. This software automates the generation of representative target flight paths, establishing repeatable threat scenarios necessary for empirical C-UAS testing11.
The automation reduces the cognitive load on Red-Air operators while ensuring the targets accurately emulate the flight characteristics of adversarial intelligence-gathering assets probing sensitive sites11. Furthermore, Dracoe’s integration of threat emulation telemetry supports real-time insights for capability evaluations, addressing the need for multi-UAS operational testing38.
5.2 DJI Matrice and Proxies
Alongside Dracoe platforms, JIATF 401 utilizes preprogrammed DJI Matrice airframes to simulate Group 1 and 2 threats11. The deployment of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) quadcopters allows evaluators to mirror the exact logistics of adversarial forces modifying civilian technology in the field11.
In early-stage training environments and basic marksmanship qualifications, expedient targets are employed to simulate evasive flight profiles. For example, during multi-command qualifications at Camp Guernsey, standard drone airframes were flown towing arrays of balloons. This provided moving aerial targets for ground troops utilizing advanced small arms optics, simulating the challenge of tracking dynamic threats without expending highly sophisticated drone airframes for basic kinetic validation2.

6. C-sUAS Evaluation Inventory (Blue Force)
To counter the simulated Red-Air threats, JIATF 401 manages an acquisition and evaluation inventory. The procurement strategy relies on high-ceiling Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts to establish enterprise-wide availability of C-UAS hardware and software, facilitating rapid scaling across the joint force39.
6.1 Perennial Autonomy Portfolio
In May 2026, JIATF 401 awarded a three-year, $500 million IDIQ contract to Perennial Autonomy (formerly Project Eagle) to procure attritable, AI-enabled air-to-air drone interceptors16. The platforms are engineered with advanced autonomy and jam-resistant communications, reflecting combat development lessons from Ukraine where the systems achieved thousands of intercepts16.
6.1.1 Bumblebee V1 and V2
The Bumblebee platform is a first-person-view quadcopter interceptor43. The Bumblebee V1 requires manual pilot adjustment for speed and altitude to lock onto targets, though it includes an AI component for target identification43.
The V2 iteration represents a tactical evolution, funded by an initial $5.2 million JIATF 401 agreement in January 202625. The V2 features an advanced three-camera array with gimbal rotation and an AI-driven Automated Target Recognition (ATR) system18. The ATR software mitigates cognitive load by allowing the drone to autonomously track and execute a hard-kill terminal intercept once authorized by the operator20. Unlike traditional ground-to-air effectors that utilize explosive fragmentation payloads, the Bumblebee relies entirely on high-speed direct kinetic collision to neutralize threats12. This low-collateral mechanism optimizes the system for domestic homeland defense operations under Title 10, Section 130i authorities, allowing installation commanders to authorize intercepts over critical infrastructure without risking surrounding civilian or military assets12.
6.1.2 Merops (AS-3 Surveyor)
The Merops system, operationally designated the AS-3 Surveyor, is a fixed-wing interceptor deployed from a truck-portable launcher17. The three-foot, propeller-driven projectile operates at speeds up to 175 mph with an engagement range of 3 to 12 miles17. Targeting relies on a fusion of radar, RF, and electro-optical sensors, directing the interceptor via AI-powered terminal guidance17. Designed specifically to counter systems like the Shahed and Gerbera, the Merops provides a highly cost-effective asymmetric response; individual units currently cost approximately $15,000, with production scaling aiming to reduce the unit cost below $10,00016. The system has already seen wide deployment, with units fielded for deployment along NATO’s eastern flank46.
6.1.3 Hornet
The Hornet is a pneumatically launched, AI-powered mid-range strike drone designed for extended-range engagements35. Like the Merops and Bumblebee, it integrates computer vision and autonomous targeting to provide commanders with attritable mass capable of operating in heavily jammed electromagnetic environments16.
6.2 AeroVironment Systems and Domestic Shield
Complementing the kinetic interceptors, JIATF 401 manages a separate three-year, $500 million IDIQ awarded to AeroVironment to support the Domestic Shield Program39. Domestic Shield is an initiative focused on proactive domestic C-UAS defense through expanded perimeters, streamlined interagency data sharing, and delegated protection authorities for high-risk assets39.
Under this contract, an $80.5 million task order was issued for the Titan MS (Multi-Sensor) system to support Air Force Global Strike Command base defense14. Titan MS is an AI-powered sensor fusion platform that detects, identifies, tracks, and defeats both RF-controlled and autonomous UAS across air, land, and sea domains14. The system relies heavily on machine learning algorithms to process data from industry-leading sensors14.
The Titan hardware integrates into the AV_Halo modular command-and-control software suite, which serves as the integration layer connecting platforms and enabling seamless interoperability with third-party networks39. Operational agility is further supported by variants like the Titan4, introduced in 2025. Deployable in under five minutes, the Titan4 is 17% lighter and 73% smaller than preceding iterations while delivering 540W output across six RF bands to establish localized protective zones14. The Domestic Shield architecture also evaluates scalable effectors, including the LOCUST 20 kw laser weapon system, which can be mounted on tactical vehicles for mobile defense or palletized for fixed sites25.
6.3 Command and Control Integration: Lattice
To ensure disparate sensors and effectors communicate effectively, JIATF 401 executed a strategic action via Army Contracting Command to integrate the Lattice command-and-control platform across the enterprise56. This software-defined capability addresses the interoperability challenges that previously hampered joint C-UAS operations57. The integration of Lattice establishes a common technological backbone, linking legacy and emerging systems to provide common air domain awareness, thereby accelerating threat neutralization timelines across the federal interagency50.
6.4 Small Arms Fire Control Optic Systems
For point defense at the lowest tactical echelon, JIATF 401 evaluates smart-optics for individual weapon systems1. Capabilities like the X4 and SMASH 2000L fire control optics are designed to assist dismounted operators in acquiring, tracking, and engaging moving aerial targets using standard-issue rifles1. These systems calculate the required lead for a moving target, effectively turning standard infantry into localized C-sUAS nodes and mitigating the difficulty of engaging agile FPV drones with traditional iron sights1.
7. Operational Assessments and Joint Integration
JIATF 401 executes continuous evaluation cycles to rapidly integrate user feedback into the acquisition pipeline. The task force leverages varied geographic and operational environments to validate technologies against Red-Air emulation.
| Evaluation Parameter | Fort Benning Assessment | Fort Bragg Assessment | Camp Guernsey Assessment | JTF-NCR Assessment (NCR) |
| Date | July 2026 | April 2026 | May 2026 | February 2026 |
| Evaluating Unit | 75th Ranger Regiment12 | 82nd Airborne Division19 | AFGSC / 90th Missile Wing1 | Joint Task Force-National Capital Region58 |
| Primary System Tested | Bumblebee V2 Interceptor18 | Bumblebee V1 & V2 Prototypes43 | X4 & SMASH 2000L Optics1 | 11 Sensor Systems, 3 Mitigation Devices52 |
| Red-Air Target Asset | Dracoe Quadcopters, DJI Matrice11 | Designated “Rabbit” UAS20 | COTS Drones towing balloon targets37 | Various simulated sUAS incident profiles52 |
| Tactical Focus | Autonomous terminal tracking via ATR; low-collateral physical interception12. | Paratrooper familiarization; transition from manual to autonomous air-to-air intercept19. | ICBM base defense; kinetic engagement by individual defenders utilizing smart optics1. | Interagency interoperability; multi-layered sensor integration; urban homeland defense52. |
The Fort Benning operational assessment in July 2026 tested the Bumblebee V2’s ATR software during terminal phase intercepts against evasive Group 1 and 2 platforms preprogrammed by Dracoe target management software11. Earlier, in April 2026 at Fort Bragg, paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division conducted initial familiarization sprints, assessing the cognitive reduction provided by the V2’s autonomous locking capabilities compared to the manual targeting of the V119.
At Camp Guernsey in May 2026, defenders evaluated the X4 and SMASH 2000L fire control systems to validate point defense tactics for ICBM infrastructure1. Concurrently, the February 2026 exercise at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall emphasized urban defense. Supporting the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR), JIATF 401 ran day and night threat simulations to gauge the seamless integration of disparate sensor arrays among interagency, federal, and local law enforcement partners52.
8. Conclusion
The Department of War’s approach to unmanned aerial threats underwent a structural and doctrinal shift in 2026. By centralizing C-sUAS efforts under the DRPM-UxS and JIATF 401, an acquisition pathway was established capable of bypassing legacy procurement delays, enabling the rapid deployment of systems like the Bumblebee V2 and Titan MS29. The publication of the Small Drones, Big Problems doctrine aligned the interagency around non-kinetic layered defenses and physical obscuration15. The efficacy of this accelerated acquisition and doctrinal framework relies intrinsically on the Red-Air evaluation enterprise. By deploying automated target emulators—such as the Dracoe software platforms—against AI-driven interceptors and non-kinetic defenses, JIATF 401 ensures that emerging capabilities are rigorously stressed against realistic, complex threat profiles before achieving operational fielding11.
Master Summary Table
| Category | Details / Systems Evaluated | Strategic Significance / Purpose |
| Command Authority | DRPM-UxS, JIATF 401, DAWG | Centralizes oversight of all unmanned and counter-unmanned portfolios, streamlining acquisitions and interoperability29. |
| C-UAS Doctrine | Small Drones, Big Problems (Four Ps, Five Ds) | Shifts focus from default kinetic intercepts to layered defense, prioritizing detection, denial, disruption, and physical obscuration6. |
| Red-Air Strategy | Point Defense Battle Lab (PDBL), VAPOR 26.1 | Employs dedicated aggressor pilots to simulate state and non-state Group 1-3 UAS tactics to stress-test base defenses9. |
| Red-Air Inventory | Dracoe Quadcopters, DJI Matrice, Balloon Proxies | Uses commercial airframes and automated target management software to present consistent, repeatable threat paths for evaluation2. |
| Kinetic Effectors | Perennial Autonomy (Bumblebee V2, Merops, Hornet) | Provides low-collateral, hit-to-kill intercepts utilizing AI Automated Target Recognition (ATR), ideal for Title 10 domestic operations16. |
| Sensor/Optic Tech | AeroVironment Titan MS, SMASH 2000L, X4 Optics | Enhances detection and tracking through AI sensor fusion (Titan MS) and smart-optics for dismounted infantry small arms2. |
| Command Integration | Lattice Software, AV_Halo | Provides a common air domain awareness backbone to link legacy sensors and new effectors across the interagency39. |
| Evaluation Sites | Fort Benning, Fort Bragg, Camp Guernsey, NCR | Provides distinct environmental contexts to validate ATR software, optical tracking, and multi-agency interoperability2. |
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- JIATF-401 acquires advanced kinetic counter-drone system to enhance warfighter lethality, https://www.army.mil/article/290392/jiatf_401_acquires_advanced_kinetic_counter_drone_system_to_enhance_warfighter_lethality
- Tens of thousands of Perennial Autonomy’s Bumblebee V1 UAVs in Ukraine – Janes, https://www.janes.com/defence-intelligence-insights/defence-news/air/tens-of-thousands-of-perennial-autonomys-bumblebee-v1-uavs-in-ukraine
- Perennial Autonomy Scores $500M JIATF 401 IDIQ – Tectonic Defense, https://www.tectonicdefense.com/perennial-autonomy-scores-500m-jiatf-401-idiq/
- Pentagon Backs AI Counter-Drone Startup with $500 Million Deal – Dronelife, https://dronelife.com/2026/05/21/perennial-autonomy-pentagon-contract/
- Australia fields Vector AI surveillance UAV – Janes, https://www.janes.com/defence-intelligence-insights/defence-news/defence/australia-fields-vector-ai-surveillance-uav
- AV Awarded $500 million IDIQ for Support of JIATF-401 Domestic Shield Program, https://www.avinc.com/2026/07/06/av-awarded-500-million-idiq-for-support-of-jiatf-401-domestic-shield-program/
- AV Awarded $500 million IDIQ for Support of JIATF-401 Domestic Shield Program, https://www.barchart.com/story/news/3141213/av-awarded-500-million-idiq-for-support-of-jiatf-401-domestic-shield-program
- Counter-UAS systems to be supplied for Domestic Shield by AeroVironment, https://militaryembedded.com/unmanned/counter-uas/counter-uas-systems-to-be-supplied-for-domestic-shield-by-aerovironment
- JIATF-401 selects AV’s Titan multi-sensor system for Domestic Shield – Unmanned airspace, https://www.unmannedairspace.info/counter-uas-systems-and-policies/jiatf-401-selects-avs-titan-multi-sensor-system-for-domestic-shield/
- Pentagon awards $80M task order for AI-enabled tech to defend Air Force bases against small drones | DefenseScoop, https://defensescoop.com/2026/07/06/pentagon-awards-task-order-to-av-for-titan-drone-defense/
- AeroVironment wins $80.5m contract for Titan MS system – Airforce Technology, https://www.airforce-technology.com/news/aerovironment-titan-ms-system/
- Titan®AI-Powered Multi-Threat C-UAS Defense MS C-UAS Archives – AeroVironment, https://www.avinc.com/?avinc_solution_tax=titanai-powered-multi-threat-c-uas-defense-ms-c-uas
- Joint Interagency Task Force Awards Critical Counter-UAS Contract – Department of War, https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4443046/joint-interagency-task-force-awards-critical-counter-uas-contract/
- Joint Interagency Task Force spearheads contract, unifies drone defenses, https://www.jbsa.mil/News/News/Article/4435109/joint-interagency-task-force-spearheads-contract-unifies-drone-defenses/
- JIATF-401 supports JTF-NCR’s C-sUAS Threat Simulation Exercise | Article – Army.mil, https://www.army.mil/article/290616/jiatf_401_supports_jtf_ncrs_c_suas_threat_simulation_exercise
- AFGSC, JIATF-401 conduct multi-command C-sUAS qualification at Camp Guernsey > Air Force > Article Display, https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4505897/afgsc-jiatf-401-conduct-multi-command-c-suas-qualification-at-camp-guernsey/