The U.S. Department of Defense has selected five military installations to support the development and evaluation of directed-energy systems designed to counter unmanned aircraft threats, marking an early step in expanding defenses against hostile drones.

According to the Department, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 chose Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Fort Bliss, Texas; Naval Base Kitsap, Washington; Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota; and Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, as the first sites for the program.

The initiative is focused on advancing directed-energy counter-drone technologies, which use concentrated energy rather than traditional munitions to disrupt, disable or destroy unmanned aircraft systems. Technologies under evaluation may include high-energy lasers and high-power microwave systems.

The selected bases represent a broad range of missions and operational environments. Fort Huachuca plays a key role in military intelligence and electronic warfare. Fort Bliss supports air and missile defense missions. Naval Base Kitsap is a major Navy installation in the Pacific Northwest. Grand Forks Air Force Base has emerged as a hub for unmanned aircraft operations and testing. Whiteman Air Force Base is home to the Air Force’s B-2 Spirit stealth bomber fleet.

The Department did not disclose which specific systems would be tested at each installation or provide a timeline for testing and potential deployment.

The announcement follows heightened attention to counter-drone operations near civilian airspace. Earlier this year, the temporary closure of airspace near El Paso, Texas, raised concerns about coordination and safety after issues emerged related to the use of a laser-based counter-UAS system near a commercial airport.

Defense officials have identified low-cost, widely available drones as a growing security concern because they are difficult to defeat with traditional air defense systems. Directed-energy weapons are viewed as a potential solution, offering faster response times and lower per-engagement costs.

The Department said the selected sites will play a key role as the directed-energy counter-drone program moves forward.

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U.S. Military selects first bases for directed-energy counter-drone program

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