Over $600 million has been committed at record pace by Joint Interagency Task Force 401 to boost counter-drone capabilities for Operation Epic Fury, the FIFA World Cup, and homeland defense.
For Epic Fury, JIATF 401 delivered $350 million within the first month of combat operations, addressing urgent calls from U.S. Central Command, Air Combat Command, Global Strike Command, and Army Transportation Command. “We move with speed to keep pace with an evolving threat,” said Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross.
For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, $100 million will enable mobile counter-drone technologies to protect stadiums and fan zones across nine states and 11 cities. Working with interagency and law enforcement partners, the War Department provides non-kinetic, sensing-focused systems. After the World Cup, these National Guard-employed assets will bolster installation and infrastructure defense under the Army’s Transformation in Contact.
Under the Domestic Shield initiative, $158 million will defend the nation’s highest-priority defense critical infrastructure, using expedited surveys and rapid validation.
“This coordinated, whole-of-government approach remains essential,” said Michelle Self, deputy of the rapid acquisition division. “Efforts that traditionally took years have been executed in months—demonstrating our commitment to delivering operationally relevant capability at speed.”
