The Trump administration launched new initiatives to fight against the expanding danger which drones present when used by terrorist groups, criminal organizations, and foreign enemies according to FBI Director Kash Patel during his Saturday statement. According to Patel, the bureau has spent a lot of money this year updating its defenses against unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
“Unmanned aircrafts are increasingly exploited by criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors — making the counter-UAS program a critical area for the FBI to modernize and adapt to stay ahead of the threat,” Patel wrote on X, emphasizing the urgency of responding to evolving aerial threats.
December 27: The FBI’s new Counter UAS program
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) December 27, 2025
This year the @FBI has put significant time and resources into developing our counter drone capabilities and growing coordination with law enforcement on counter UAS tech across the country.
Unmanned aircrafts are increasingly…
What is the national counter-UAS training center?
The FBI will establish the National Counter-UAS Training Center at its Redstone Arsenal facility in Huntsville, Alabama after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in June.
The center operates under federal law and the National Defense Authorization Act from this year to provide training for law enforcement officers throughout the United States in drone detection and countermeasure techniques.
The facility will play a vital role in protecting the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics, which will draw massive crowds, and become prime targets for criminal and terrorist operations, Patel said.
How do drones pose a national security threat?
Drones started as recreational equipment, but they evolved into complex systems which people now use for weapon delivery, illegal goods transportation, and monitoring activities.
Drones function as tools which criminal and terrorist groups employ for armed assaults, illegal goods transportation, and surveillance operations. Foreign adversaries including state-backed actors have conducted investigations into drone-based sabotage and espionage activities.
Patel’s statements received confirmation from FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino who warned that drones present an immediate threat. This requires federal agencies and law enforcement to make urgent adjustments to their operational methods.
The drone threat isn’t in the future, it’s in the now.
— Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) December 27, 2025
Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and Director Patel, we are adapting to this new threat ecosystem. https://t.co/xA54kh7mdk
What regulatory measures are supporting counter-UAS operations?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) declared it would forbid the sale of new foreign-made drones deemed a national security risk concurrently with FBI efforts.
The FCC has designated drones, and vital components from China and other foreign nations, as dangerous threats to public safety and national security through its “covered list” of prohibited equipment. The increasing knowledge about drones as foreign spying equipment stands alongside their classification as illegal tools according to the action.
How does this fit into the FBI’s broader counterterrorism history?
The FBI has established a track record of handling emerging dangers throughout its operational history. The bureau expanded its counterterrorism operations during the 1990s and 2000s because of the 9/11 attacks, together with the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
Specialized counterterrorism divisions, intelligence-sharing initiatives, and interagency task forces were created after 9/11 to detect and stop terrorist plans both within the United States and in foreign countries.
The FBI operates counter-UAS operations today because it needs to adapt to new threats which follows the pattern of its past work. The bureau now includes drone detection and mitigation operations in its operational capabilities. After it expanded its surveillance and analytical tools to track terrorist networks.
What practical capabilities will the training center provide?
The National Counter-UAS Training Center offers comprehensive training for law enforcement and federal partners, including:
- Safe detection and tracking of drones using radar, radio frequency sensors, and other technologies.
- Identification of unauthorized drones and threat assessment.
- Legal protocols for intervention, seizure, or neutralization of drones, ensuring compliance with civil liberties and federal law.
- Coordination strategies with local, state, and federal agencies during high-profile events or crisis scenarios.
How does the program reflect emerging trends in global security?
The worldwide implementation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has created new possibilities while exposing various security weaknesses. The increasing use of drones for smuggling operations at U.S. borders, and their deployment to deliver illegal items into prisons, and their dangerous proximity to airports has established a rising national security threat according to experts.
The worldwide use of drones by military forces and non-state entities has demonstrated a shift in the capabilities of asymmetric warfare.
The United States funds counter-UAS programs to keep its technological and tactical superiority. This enables domestic security agencies to handle both regular and irregular threats effectively.
What are the expected long-term benefits of the program?
Director Patel stated that the funding for counter-drone capabilities will create long-term advantages for national security in the United States. The program strengthens homeland security through its training of law enforcement agencies to identify, track, and stop drone threats. The system protects public safety and critical infrastructure against emerging aerial threats.
The program enables the United States to handle future technological developments and maintain defense readiness against drone attacks. These attacks are expected to increase in the upcoming years.
