Cornyn Introduces Bill to Spur Counter-Drone Defense Innovation

Cornyn Introduces Bill to Spur Counter-Drone Defense Innovation News Cornyn Introduces Bill to Spur Counter-Drone Defense Innovation June 11, 2026 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today introduced legislation that would empower the U.S. Army to establish standards for technologies to counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or drones: “The Russia-Ukraine conflict exposed a vulnerability in America’s military readiness and our supply chain, and that is technologies that can detect and neutralize enemy drones,” said Sen. Cornyn. “By empowering the Secretary of the Army to establish clear interoperability standards and guidelines for companies developing innovative defense technology to counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems, this legislation would ensure our warfighters are equipped to meet the demands of a modern battlefield and able to protect Americans and American interests at home and abroad.” Background: The U.S. Army is actively investing in counter-UAS technologies to meet the demands of the modern battlefield. The Ukraine-Russia conflict laid bare the deficiencies in America’s supply of counter-UAS technologies and continuity of operations for ground forces across Army units. By establishing clear standards for networked, autonomous kinetic capabilities, this legislation would improve both procurement processes and combat effectiveness. This legislation also directs the U.S. Secretary of the Army to submit a report to Congress explaining the established standards and identifying any hardware or software that currently meets the guidelines. Sen. Cornyn’s legislation would empower the U.S. Department of the Army to establish standards for technologies to counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), which will: Help our warfighters detect, track, and defeat small drones from our adversaries; Improve interoperability and continuity of efforts for ground forces across Brigade Combat Team elements; And provide clarity to private industry partners who are researching and developing counter-UAS technologies, so they are better able to meet military specifications.