The Defense Department has requested $20 million in funds from Congress to counter drone threats posed by the Islamic State organization in addition to the existing $189.7 million budget to combat hostile networks, Defense News reported Saturday.
Jen Judson writes DoD would put the money into the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund to buy tools designed to identify and counter enemies’ unmanned aerial systems that carry improvised explosive devices.
The report said the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization serves to counter IED threats that proliferated during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and will operate as a permanent entity under the Defense Threat Reduction Agency by late 2016.
David Small, a JIDO spokesman, told Defense News the organization will assist in the U.S. Army’s efforts to counter small drone activities based on requests from the U.S. Central Command.
Small added the organization aims to address the UAS threat in collaboration with other agencies and explore potential systems to produce the needed technology within two years, according to the report.
