The U.S. Coast Guard is developing a counter-drone capability to both protect its own locations and to guard protected assets under special circumstances as provided for under a recent law.
Under the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, which was signed into law last year, Department of Homeland Security components including the USCG are authorized and directed to mitigate threats posed by unauthorized unmanned aerial systems to facilities and to what are deemed National Security Special Events – things like the Super Bowl or a presidential visit. DHS components also can provide counter-drone capabilities at the request of state, local and tribal law enforcement requests or to preserve active crime scenes and in other emergency conditions.
The Coast Guard’s year-long pilot program, which was announced via an Oct. 28 privacy impact assessment, is designed to develop processes and procedures for deploying anti-drone capability.
