JIATF-401
Pentagon counter-drone task force; home of Lattice platform and Gauntlet II red team
On 29 September, JIATF-401 added ten firms to its Domestic Shield counter-drone programme, widening the Pentagon channel through which validated systems compete for site-defence orders.
Last refreshed: 1 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
How will JIATF-401's Gauntlet II red team reshape the US attack drone vendor landscape?
Timeline for JIATF-401
Mentioned in: Hegseth plans a four-star drone command
Drones: Industry & DefenceAwarded ten Domestic Shield IDIQ ceilings
Drones: Industry & Defence: JIATF-401 adds ten Domestic Shield firmsMentioned in: Washington lends $820m for drone parts
Drones: Industry & DefenceAwarded AeroVironment two same-day counter-drone contracts
Drones: Industry & Defence: AeroVironment banks $580.5m in a dayAwarded $500M three-year IDIQ to Perennial Autonomy
Drones: Industry & Defence: Perennial wins first JIATF-401 IDIQ at $500MBackground
JIATF-401, Joint Interagency Task Force 401, is the Pentagon unit that coordinates US counter-drone operations across military services. Its work links operational Counter-UAS needs with the systems used to detect, track and defeat drones.
The task force operates within the Lattice command-and-control framework. On 13 March, the Army made Lattice the first purchase under a $20bn enterprise vehicle for counter-drone operations across the Department of Defence. That gives JIATF-401 a role in a shared operating layer rather than a single platform or weapon.
Its remit also reaches testing and procurement. In March, the Pentagon assigned JIATF-401 a live counter-drone red-team role for Gauntlet II, using GPS jamming, communications denial and electronic warfare against attack drones. The combination makes the task force an important link between counter-drone operations, evaluation and acquisition.
JIATF-401 widens Domestic Shield
On 29 September, JIATF-401 added ten firms to Domestic Shield, its programme for defending US military sites against drones. The firms' combined contract ceilings total US$4.15bn, though each still has to compete for individual orders.
For JIATF-401, the enlarged roster makes the task force a gatekeeper for a broader range of validated counter-drone systems rather than a buyer tied to one supplier. That role follows its earlier awards, including a $500m, three-year Merops interceptor contract on 19 May.
Reference
What is JIATF-401 Pentagon counter-drone?
What did JIATF-401 award AeroVironment in July 2026?
JIATF-401 Anduril Lattice $87 million contract?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 1 October 2026. Editorial standards.