The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401) have signed a memorandum of understanding on information sharing in the field of counter-drone operations.
Under the agreement, NNSA and its national laboratories will provide JIATF-401 with data collected during counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) testing. In turn, JIATF-401 will share operational data, field assessments and results from its own tests with NNSA.
According to NNSA, the agreement is intended to reduce duplicate testing, accelerate the evaluation and deployment of counter-drone systems, and strengthen the protection of critical national security facilities.
NNSA operates a standing counter-drone program through its Office of Defense Nuclear Security. The program covers the detection, monitoring and response to unauthorized drone activity at the agency’s laboratories, plants and other facilities.
The agreement also complements JIATF-401’s work to standardize C-UAS testing. In March, the task force adopted standard guidelines for the testing and evaluation of counter-unmanned aircraft systems technologies. The document establishes common data requirements for evaluating counter-small UAS systems.
NNSA said the information-sharing agreement will help build a broader shared data base on C-UAS testing and operations. JIATF-401, in turn, said standardization allows test results to be aggregated and synthesized.
