FAA Deepens Interagency Collaboration to Protect the Nation's Skies From Unmanned Threats
By PRBAA
Five federal departments signed an expanded counter-drone agreement that sets a consistent process for testing and deploying systems that detect, track, or take control of unauthorized drones without compromising aviation safety.
The Department of Transportation, Department of War, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Energy, and Department of Justice announced an expanded interagency effort on Monday, November 9 to further coordinate counter-unmanned aircraft systems operations, the FAA said.
What the agreement does
The memorandum of understanding, led by the White House Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty, establishes a consistent interagency process for evaluating counter-drone technologies and deploying them to protect aviation safety and advance national security.
Under the agreement:
- The parties will work closely with the FAA and the Federal Communications Commission when developing systems that detect, track, stop, or take control of dangerous or unauthorized drones, and will weigh DOT, FAA, and FCC requirements and testing data when researching, developing, testing, and evaluating those systems.
- The agencies will collaborate on technical requirements, field testing, and data sharing so new counter-drone systems can be introduced safely alongside civilian aircraft.
- The FAA may provide technical requirements, standards, and guidance for safe introduction, while DOT may guide how those capabilities fit into the broader civilian transportation system.
The effort builds on existing collaboration between the FAA and federal partners, including a temporary flight restriction along the southern U.S. border and a completed safety assessment of the Department of War's high-energy laser counter-drone system.
Why it matters in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico's airspace mixes dense commercial traffic at SJU with a growing unmanned aircraft sector, including Part 107 operators, drone service companies, and public safety programs across the island. A formal federal process for testing and deconflicting counter-drone technology gives airport managers and operators a clearer framework for how unauthorized UAS near an airport will be handled, and it signals that counter-drone capability is moving from pilot programs into routine federal coordination.
PRBAA will continue to track the FAA's unmanned aircraft guidance as it develops.