Industry Insights

The emergence of highly capable unmanned aerial systems (UAS), such as drones, has left law enforcement organizations across the U.S. scrambling to establish new procedures and solutions to mitigate risks posed by drone incursions in US airspace.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is one of several federal government agencies that are continually updating their Counter-UAS (C-UAS) procedures. In the case of the DoD, to secure its 450+ bases across the states. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which provides aerospace warning and aerospace command in North America, and the U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) are responsible for securing the airspace around military bases.

This report will break down the latest efforts from the DoD to counter drone incursions. Those efforts include:

• NDAA funding
• New C-UAS procedures from NORTHCOM
• DoD department-wide strategy

In the winter of 2022, a record 1.5 billion people tuned into the FIFA World Cup Final. Additionally, nearly 3.5 million people made the journey to Qatar to watch the games in person, making the tournament one of the most popular sporting experiences in the world.

In 2026, the World Cup will welcome millions more fans to games in 12 cities across North America. One of the individuals responsible for ensuring the safety of both players and fans is G.B. Jones, Chief Safety & Security Officer of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

One of the major threats to security at the World Cup, as well as many major sporting events around the world, is drones. Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) such as drones can carry harmful objects, disrupt games, and be hard to detect, all of which GB and his team are aware of before the World Cup begins in June 2026.

Before IDGA’s 2025 Counter UAS Summit and the World Cup, G.B. sat down with IDGA to discuss how his team is preparing for UAS threats and how they plan to mitigate them.

Recent global conflicts have underscored the widespread use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in military scenarios. This rapid proliferation of UAS has introduced new threats, such as unauthorized surveillance, privacy breaches, airspace obstruction, and the potential use of drones for carrying destructive payloads. 

In response to these challenges, there is an urgent need for effective counter-UAS (C-UAS) technology. Countries are increasingly procuring systems for detection, identification, tracking, alerting, jamming, spoofing, and neutralization of rogue drones. The global market for C-UAS technology is expected to quadruple between 2021 and 2031.

The latest visual guide from IDGA outlines how the American Counter-UAS (C-UAS) market is responding to the rise of drones flying in U.S. airspace. The guide provides insights into the following:

• Kinetic vs non-kinetic C-UAS solutions
• C-UAS market size in the U.S.
• FAA No Fly Zones

This rapid proliferation of UAS has introduced new threats, which are particularly pronounced in civilian airspace, where incidents involving drones have surged. From 2021 to 2023, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported over 2,000 drone sightings near U.S. airports, including incidents that required pilots to take evasive actions. In the first four months of 2024 alone, the FAA recorded 326 drone-related incidents near airplanes, helicopters, and airports, highlighting the growing security risks.

In response to these challenges, there is an urgent need for effective counter-UAS (C-UAS) technology. The global market for C-UAS technology is expected to quadruple between 2021 and 2031. Notably, integrated defense networks that combine various detection and mitigation technologies are proving more effective than isolated systems, as evidenced by a U.S. Army assessment.

The following report will analyze the currently evolving C-UAS market, examine current trends, technological advancements, and future efforts to address the growing challenges posed by UAS proliferation.

The sixth annual IDGA Counter-UAS Summit that took place this past August in Arlington, Virginia proved to be the largest and most engaging iteration of the event so far. Over the course of two days leaders in government, military, law enforcement, and industry, convened to discuss ways to collaboratively combat the threat of UAS to the US military and citizens.

Before kicking off the 2025 version of the event, IDGA has put together this post-show report that includes:

• Daily summaries
• On-site survey results
• Attendee testimonials
• Attending organizations

Drones are increasingly prevalent in public settings across the U.S. In fact, the drone industry in the states has grown to $6.39 billion in 2024. One place where drones pose a significant threat to American citizens is densely populated urban areas. Responding to these drone threats requires the foresight to educate the population on flying drones, proper counter UAS (CUAS) measures, and cohesion amongst several long enforcement.

DJ Smith is the CUAS Systems Program Coordinator for the Virginia State Police, and in his role he has a wealth of experience in responding to drone incursions. During the CUAS Summit, Smith will participate in a panel discussion on challenges and solutions for counter-drone operations in urban areas. Before the conference, Smith sat down with IDGA to preview his session at the Counter UAS Summit and discuss the work the Virginia State Police is doing to mitigate drone risks in urban areas.

IDGA’s Counter UAS Summit takes place August 27-28 at the Crystal Gateway Marriot in Arlington, Virginia. During the two-day event, high level discussions will be held surrounding kinetic and non-kinetic approaches for countering drones, including exploring case studies on specific incidents, insights into the latest innovative CUAS technologies, the impact of shifting legal authorities, and much more.