US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin Photo: Maya Alleruzzo
US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin has signed a new classified strategy aimed at countering the threats posed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The document, which aims to unify the US Department of Defence’s approach to combating drones, takes into account the various aspects and timeframes associated with this problem.
Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder said that this is not the first initiative of the Minister on this issue, as during his tenure, the development and rapid deployment of new capabilities to counter unmanned systems was an important part of his work.
“Drones pose a serious threat to US personnel and facilities abroad and at home,” Ryder said. He added that the threats posed by these systems are significantly changing the way warfare is conducted.
The new strategy is part of the US Department of Defence’s broader efforts to strengthen defences against small UAV threats, including through the creation of the Joint Small UAV Countermeasures Office and the launch of the Replicator 2 initiative to defend against such threats.
