NORTHCOM conducting homeland security study on drones, Army chief says

U.S. Northern Command is conducting a study on unmanned aerial systems as it pertains to homeland security, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George noted during a congressional hearing this week.

George, speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee April 18, was asked by Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) whether the Army needs additional resources or new authorities when it comes to counter-UAS funding. Both are important, George said.

More authorities are needed to help transition programs from research and development to procurement, the chief said. A critical area of need, he noted, is protection of U.S. airfields and critical infrastructure.

“I think NORTHCOM right now is doing a study kind of on what that is because there's obviously -- it's an interagency challenge when you're looking at, you know, small UAS that are operating here, stateside,” George said.

Lt. Cmdr. Liza Dougherty, a NORTHCOM spokesperson, wrote in an email to Inside Defense Friday that the study is ongoing, but declined to provide additional details.