TSA Counter Drone Testing

The Airports Emerging Technologies Section (E263) hosted a collaboration with the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) team on April 20-24, 2026. Various detection and mitigation systems were tested against several UAS platforms with an integration of situational testing of contemporary issues within the community of practice. General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) personnel provided flying operations and logistical support for a rich environmental context for a test bed. The test bed enabled continuity in testing, validating, and verifying C-UAS technology effectiveness and suitability in a field setting. System performance data were collected for analysis in an effort to equip a very robust knowledge network with an operational agility to mitigate UAS threat changes and variations in the technology marketplace. With both teams focused on airport safety, the value stream from these collaborations will result in benefits across the aviation continuum.