WASHINGTON, USA – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday announced multiple contract awards to support Department-wide access to Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) capabilities that help detect, track, identify, and mitigate threats posed by unauthorised or malicious unmanned aircraft systems.
The awards will provide DHS Components with a common pathway to acquire C-UAS hardware, software, and services tailored to mission needs across fixed-site, mobile, aviation, maritime, aircraft-based, and special mission environments. These capabilities support DHS’s responsibility to protect public safety, critical infrastructure, federal facilities, transportation systems, border security operations, maritime operations, and major public events.
“These awards mark an important step in strengthening DHS’s ability to respond to unauthorised and malicious unmanned aircraft systems,” said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “By taking a Department-wide approach, we are improving mission readiness, supporting more consistent capabilities, and helping ensure DHS personnel have access to the right tools for the job.”
DHS Components have historically procured C-UAS capabilities through separate acquisition efforts. These awards are intended to support greater consistency, interoperability, operational flexibility, technology refresh, and lifecycle management across the Department while enabling Components to acquire solutions aligned to their specific mission requirements.
“Protecting DHS personnel, facilities, and operations requires capabilities that are reliable, interoperable, and adaptable to different mission environments,” said Chief Security Officer, DHS management directorate Justin Napolitano. “This Department-wide approach will help Components access C-UAS solutions that can support fixed-site security, mobile operations, special events, and other mission needs.”
The awarded contracts are designed to support a broad range of C-UAS capabilities, including detection, tracking, classification, identification, mitigation, command-and-control integration, training, maintenance, technical support, system integration, research and development, test and evaluation, and vendor-operated turnkey services.
“As unmanned aircraft systems become more capable and more widely available, DHS needs solutions that can adapt,” said under secretary for science and technology Pedro Allende. “This effort supports a technology refresh model that will help the Department keep pace with changing threats, emerging tools, and evolving operational requirements.”
Through these awards, DHS will be able to access solutions that address evolving unmanned aircraft system threats while supporting compliance with applicable federal requirements, including cybersecurity, aviation, communications, accessibility, and supply chain standards. The contract structure also supports future technology refresh opportunities to help DHS keep pace with rapidly changing C-UAS technologies and operational needs.
DHS Components expected to be able to use the contract include the US Secret Service, US Coast Guard, US Customs and Border Protection, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Protective Service, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the DHS Science and Technology Directorate.