The FBI has opened a National Counter‑UAS Training Center at Redstone Arsenal after a June executive order by President Donald Trump. Director Kash Patel says the center will train law enforcement to detect, identify, track and, when authorized, mitigate unlawful drone activity in line with the National Defense Authorization Act. The move coincides with FCC action to ban new foreign‑made drones and add certain China‑made UAS components to a national‑security "covered list."
FBI Opens National Counter‑UAS Training Center as Patel Warns of Growing Drone Threats
FBI Director Kash Patel said Dec. 27 the Trump administration is ramping up its efforts to combat the growing threat posed by drones used by criminal networks, terrorist groups and foreign adversaries.
The FBI has launched a National Counter‑UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Training Center at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, as part of a broader push to modernize its capabilities against drones used by criminal networks, terrorist groups and hostile foreign actors.
New Training Hub And Capabilities
FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau has invested significant time and resources this year to strengthen its counter‑drone operations. The training center — established after a June executive order signed by President Donald Trump — will train law enforcement personnel to safely detect, identify, track and, when legally authorized, mitigate unlawful drone activity.
FBI Director Kash Patel said Saturday that unmanned aircraft "are increasingly exploited by criminals, terrorists and hostile foreign actors."
“Unmanned aircraft are increasingly exploited by criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors — making the counter UAS program a critical area for the FBI to modernize and adapt to stay ahead of the threat,” Patel wrote on X.
Legal Framework And Operational Use
The FBI says the center will operate in compliance with the provisions of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act and other applicable laws, ensuring that mitigation measures are applied only when legally authorized. The program emphasizes safe detection and identification techniques and practical, event‑focused threat response training.
Preparing For Major Events
Patel noted the facility will support security planning for major upcoming events in the U.S., including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics, helping agencies coordinate counter‑UAS measures and response plans.
FBI Director Kash Patel said a new National Counter-UAS Training Center will play a key role in preparing security operations for major upcoming events in the U.S.
Related Federal Actions
The announcement comes as the Federal Communications Commission moved to ban new foreign‑made drones over national security concerns. The FCC added UAS and critical components manufactured in China and other foreign countries to its "covered list" of equipment deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security and public safety.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino also weighed in on social media: “The drone threat isn’t in the future, it’s in the now,” underscoring the administration’s effort to adapt to what he called a “new threat ecosystem.”
Why This Matters: As commercial drone technology becomes more accessible and capable, federal agencies are expanding training, legal frameworks and regulatory steps to prevent exploitation by hostile actors while preserving lawful uses of UAS technology.
Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion contributed to this report.
