2026 Safer Skies Act Paves the Way for Drone Defense in the U.S.

The rapid growth of drones, including those who use them cluelessly, carelessly, or nefariously, has changed the landscape for system integrators, and the Safer Skies Act, which was enacted into law as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), marks a significant milestone for anyone concerned with drone defense.

The rapid proliferation of drones has introduced a new category of risk, ranging from real physical damage to confusion and panic, as seen in the reports of unknown drone activity in New Jersey, which sparked fear on the ground and headlines around the world. More recently, shockwaves have been sent through the critical infrastructure security world, with Iran recently targeting an Amazon data center with Shahed drones.

Legislation Changes the Landscape

With the FAA having registered 837,513 drones in the U.S as of April 2026 – a number the FAA projects to grow significantly in the coming years – the Safer Skies Act represents a sea change in how agencies can detect and deploy responses to drone threats, and a massive business opportunity for system integrators and others involved in drone defense.

The culmination of years of Congressional focus and significant advocacy from the private sector, the Safer Skies Act states: “Any State, local, Tribal, or territorial (SLTT) law enforcement or correctional agency may … take such actions ... that are necessary to mitigate a credible threat that an unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft poses to the safety or security of people, facilities, and assets, a venue or set of venues used for large-scale public gatherings or events, critical infrastructure, or correctional facilities.”

The legislation finally offers real direction that will help systems integrators drive organizations and their SLTT public safety partners to move forward with the detection and mitigation of this rapidly evolving threat; in fact, the last time federal counter-UAS authorities were meaningfully expanded was in 2018, and since then, only four federal agencies have been allowed limited drone mitigation authority – DoD, DHS, DOJ, and DOE.

For system integrators, this represents a significant shift and a business opportunity that is highly time-sensitive and should be acted on quickly. We all know that drones can be a tool of choice for bad actors – ranging from terrorism, to espionage, to even vandalism.

The timing of the Safer Skies Act coincides with the upcoming FIFA World Cup in the U.S.; however, it also represents a permanent and significant change in the way we deal with the drone threat going forward – whether that be from an actor with bad intentions, or your everyday hobbyist flying somewhere they are not supposed to.

The statutory changes made by the Safer Skies Act, coupled with the $500 million infusion of capital in 2026 and 2027 from FEMA to support World Cup counter-UAS activities, are nothing short of transformational for the entire drone and counter-drone ecosystem.

Additionally, the Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Grant Program, administered by FEMA, is a key funding mechanism to support the purchase of technology by SLTT entities pursuant to the Safer Skies Act. With $250 million that has already been distributed to State Administrative Agencies in 2026 and another $250 million that will be obligated in 2027, the C-UAS Grant Program covers everything from high-performance advanced radar to highly capable and technologically advanced mitigation platforms.

While major global events such as the FIFA World Cup are accelerating urgency, federal agencies are expected to publish guidance around approved technologies, training standards, and compliance procedures within defined – but currently unpublished – timeframes.

As these frameworks take shape, public safety and infrastructure operators will be positioned to begin investing in compliant systems, and integrators embedded with SLTT agency clients should be preparing now to align with these requirements.

Drone Mitigation Gets Presidential, DHS Attention

With the FAA now overseeing the safety of 44,360 flights per day, and nearly a million drones now registered in the U.S., evolving legislation is targeting new threats, along with technologies that aim to move beyond traditional ‘2D’ security systems at critical infrastructure sites.

Recent Executive Orders, including the one focused on “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty,” have marked a shift in national security priorities when it comes to drones, including a new Presidential focus on the drone industry. The President's order noted that, “Critical infrastructure, including military bases, is subject to frequent – and often unidentified – UAS incursions. Immediate action is needed to ensure American sovereignty over its skies and that its airspace remains safe and secure.”’

The Executive Order, signed in the summer of 2025, has also acted as a driver for the Department of Homeland Security, which launched in January the DHS Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems, which has already finalized a $115 million investment in counter-drone technologies focused on securing venues for America250 and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The move underscores the broader responsibility of protecting large-scale, high-profile events that draw global attention and public significance.

Drone Detection and Mitigation Methods

One of the key aspects of the Safer Skies Act is the requirement to detect and determine a ‘credible threat’ before taking mitigation action. This means that drone detection forms a vital part of any broader layered security strategy, helping to mitigate concerns of unintended consequences that could arise from this newly expanded authority.

Under the Safer Skies Act, detection and situational awareness are vitally important, and for system integrators, it is clear that much of the first wave of spending by SLTT agencies will be focused on advanced detection systems and sensor integration.

The FEMA Grant Program mentioned earlier funds equipment across the detection spectrum, ranging from RF monitoring platforms to sensors such as radar.

Radar in particular will be vitally important in complex, outdoor, or high-interference environments where sensors such as cameras and RF detectors may struggle. Radar does not depend on the drone emitting a detectable signal (such as the proliferation of “dark drones”), so it is more reliable in conditions such as fog, low light, and visual clutter.

Radar track data can also be easily integrated into common Command-and-Control (C2) platforms, meaning security professionals can receive automated alerts, rather than constantly monitoring screens. It also offers high-fidelity data, including elevation and range, meaning that systems can rapidly determine “credible threats.”

For integrators, the message is clear: the regulatory and funding infrastructure is now in place, and SLTT agencies will be moving. Those who invest the time now to understand approved technology frameworks, build relationships with public safety partners, and develop counter-UAS competency will be well-positioned to lead in what is rapidly becoming one of the most significant new verticals in physical security.