The Future of Countering Drone Threats: First Counter-Drone FVEY Policy Forum Workshop Convenes in Washington D.C

The heightened threat and utilization of drones for terrorist purposes have prompted the State Department and Bureau of Counterterrorism to advocate strongly for a comprehensive approach involving all government and societal sectors as the most effective strategy for countering this troubling trend.

Jeffrey Giauque, Deputy Coordinator for Crisis Response and Technology at the Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism, recently announced the commencement of the inaugural in-person workshop of the Counter-Drone Five Eyes (FVEY) Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. The event, which transpired from August 22-24, convened FVEY partners and U.S. government stakeholders for discussions on counter-drone measures, with a primary focus on national policy development and implementation, enhanced cooperation among FVEY partners, and strategic planning for the future of the Counter-Drone FVEY Policy Forum.

The participating delegations from FVEY comprised representatives from the United Kingdom’s Home Office and Ministry of Defence, Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Transport Canada, Australia’s Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development Communications and the Arts, and New Zealand’s Ministry of Transport. The U.S. delegation included representatives from the National Security Council; the Department of Homeland Security, and its component agencies Customs and Border Protection and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Federal Aviation Administration; and the Department of Defense.

The workshop commenced with introductory sessions, presentations from FVEY partners on their ongoing challenges, and panel discussions on defining the threat of drones and current mitigating practices. Opening remarks were given by Senior Bureau Official Chris Landberg and Deputy Coordinator for Crisis Response and Technology Jeffrey Giauque, who expressed gratitude for the commitment and collaborative efforts of participants in countering drones and other emerging technology threats. Senior Bureau Official Landberg emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive government approach to effectively combat the escalating use of drones for malicious purposes.

Discussions also encompassed the current challenges and progress of each country in formulating and implementing counter-drone policies. Presentations from Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States offered valuable insights into their respective national perspectives on the illicit use of drones, existing policies and regulatory frameworks, and domestic strategies for countering drone threats.

The second day of the workshop centred on emerging threats and trends related to drones, as well as the beneficial use of drones, the current state of integration of drones into each country’s legislative and regulatory frameworks, and the associated challenges of integrating aerial drones into civil society and national airspace.

The concluding day culminated with a technical demonstration hosted by the Department of Homeland Security at the St. Elizabeths campus, which highlighted both the remarkable benefits and the concerning and evolving threat that drones pose to national security. The imperative for ongoing strong collaboration among FVEY partners was evident, leading to the formalization of the FVEY Counter-Drone Policy Forum as a lasting body committed to the evolution and implementation of counter-drone policies.

Authors’ Information: Mary Pieters and Sean Austin serve as Program Managers in the Office of Technical Programs and Operations Policy, Bureau of Counterterrorism.