The US military’s Joint Interagency Task Force 401 has committed over USD 600 million at pace to strengthen counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) capabilities in support of Operation Epic Fury in Iran, the FIFA World Cup and homeland defence.
In support of Epic Fury, JIATF 401 committed USD 350 million during the first month of combat operations to meet urgent requirements from US Central Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Global Strike Command and US Army Transportation Command.
JIATF 401 has also committed USD 100 million to improve C-UAS capability for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, focusing on mobile counter-drone technologies to protect stadiums and fan zones in 11 cities across nine states.
Working closely with interagency partners and law enforcement, the US Department of Defense (DoD) is providing mobile C-UAS solutions designed for sensing and non-kinetic mitigation as part of a layered defence. Under the Army’s Transformation in Contact initiative, Army National Guard units will employ these capabilities to protect people and infrastructure during FIFA events. “After the World Cup, these systems will be incorporated into installation and critical infrastructure defence plans, giving installation commanders flexible, mobile assets that can be rapidly positioned against drone threats,” DoD said yesterday (April 6).
Additionally, JIATF 401 recently made a new commitment under the Domestic Shield initiative, allocating USD 158 million to defend the United States’ highest-priority defence critical infrastructure. The services provided input directly to JIATF 401 through an expedited site survey and requirements process.
“Efforts that traditionally take years have been executed in months, demonstrating JIATF 401’s commitment to delivering operationally relevant capability at speed,” said Michelle Self, deputy of the rapid acquisition division for the task force.
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Department of Defense – United States
Image: Marines assigned to the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, review procedures of a counter-unmanned aircraft system aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer in the Pacific Ocean, April 3, 2026. (Photo by Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nicole Stuart)