A US military task force dedicated to countering drone threats recently evaluated a fresh autonomous system during trials along the southern border.

JIATF-401, led by the Army, works to speed up development of tools that detect, track, and neutralize small unmanned aircraft for the Pentagon and partner agencies.

The recent evaluation in southern Arizona delivered positive results and cleared the platform for operational deployment as the task force expands its defensive toolkit.

JIATF-401 and collaborating organizations assessed the SkyValor counter-UAS platform at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma near the US-Mexico border. The system offers continuous autonomous detection of drones across wide areas.

SkyValor employs several non-kinetic defeat methods, such as electronic warfare, to interrupt or disable drones without physical destruction. Over two days of testing the platform successfully detected, tracked, identified, and countered small uncrewed aircraft at long distances.

Jose Gonzalez, a Customs and Border Protection liaison assigned to JIATF-401, noted that the evaluation used demanding threat scenarios drawn from input by troops and border personnel. He added that reliable non-kinetic defeat tools form a vital part of layered defenses along the southern border.

These non-kinetic options can complement kinetic systems and give operators greater flexibility. In Ukraine both sides combine jamming with direct-fire methods like shotguns to handle drone threats.

The United States continues to explore effective counter-drone solutions, and senior leaders have designated the southern border region as a practical testing environment.

Gen. Gregory Guillot, head of US Northern Command, recently described the border as a literal and figurative sandbox where new systems can be tried and assessed quickly.

Multiple US agencies participate in drone defense along the southern border as traffickers increase use of these aircraft. The Defense Department has leveraged the area to trial emerging counter-drone technologies while supporting broader patrol operations.

JIATF-401 succeeded an earlier Pentagon counter-drone unit. It draws lessons from Ukraine to hasten capability fielding across the department and other agencies, and it maintains a marketplace where partners can acquire various systems.

Drones reduce barriers to surveillance and attack for both state and non-state actors. The United States is working rapidly to deploy new defenses, though many remain limited in availability or untested in combat.

Recent incidents have heightened urgency. Hostile drones killed six US service members in Kuwait in March and three soldiers in Jordan in 2024. Reviews of the Jordan event highlighted gaps in preparedness, prompting ongoing efforts to strengthen defenses.