[House Hearing, 119 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
EXPLORING THE USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT
SYSTEMS ACROSS THE DHS ENTERPRISE
=======================================================================
JOINT HEARING
before the
SUBCOMMITTEE ON
BORDER SECURITY AND ENFORCEMENT
and the
SUBCOMMITTEE ON
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND
TECHNOLOGY
of the
COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
APRIL 1, 2025
__________
Serial No. 119-11
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Homeland Security
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov
__________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
61-303 PDF WASHINGTON : 2025
COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY
Mark E. Green, MD, Tennessee, Chairman
Michael T. McCaul, Texas, Vice Bennie G. Thompson, Mississippi,
Chair Ranking Member
Clay Higgins, Louisiana Eric Swalwell, California
Michael Guest, Mississippi J. Luis Correa, California
Carlos A. Gimenez, Florida Shri Thanedar, Michigan
August Pfluger, Texas Seth Magaziner, Rhode Island
Andrew R. Garbarino, New York Daniel S. Goldman, New York
Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Delia C. Ramirez, Illinois
Tony Gonzales, Texas Timothy M. Kennedy, New York
Morgan Luttrell, Texas LaMonica McIver, New Jersey
Dale W. Strong, Alabama Julie Johnson, Texas, Vice Ranking
Josh Brecheen, Oklahoma Member
Elijah Crane, Arizona Pablo Jose Hernandez, Puerto Rico
Andrew Ogles, Tennessee Nellie Pou, New Jersey
Sheri Biggs, South Carolina Troy A. Carter, Louisiana
Gabe Evans, Colorado Robert Garcia, California
Ryan Mackenzie, Pennsylvania Vacancy
Brad Knott, North Carolina
Eric Heighberger, Staff Director
Hope Goins, Minority Staff Director
Sean Corcoran, Chief Clerk
------
SUBCOMMITTEE ON BORDER SECURITY AND ENFORCEMENT
Michael Guest, Mississippi, Chairman
Tony Gonzales, Texas J. Luis Correa, California,
Elijah Crane, Arizona Ranking Member
Andrew Ogles, Tennessee Delia C. Ramirez, Illinois
Sheri Biggs, South Carolina Julie Johnson, Texas
Brad Knott, North Carolina Vacant
Mark E. Green, MD, Tennessee (ex Vacant
officio) Bennie G. Thompson, Mississippi
(ex officio)
Natasha Eby, Subcommittee Staff Director
Brieana Marticorena, Minority Subcommittee Staff Director
------
SUBCOMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
Dale W. Strong, Alabama, Chairman
Josh Brecheen, Oklahoma Timothy M. Kennedy, New York,
Gabe Evans, Colorado Ranking Member
Ryan Mackenzie, Pennsylvania Julie Johnson, Texas
Mark E. Green, MD, Tennessee (ex Pablo Jose Hernandez, Puerto Rico
officio) Bennie G. Thompson, Mississippi
(ex officio)
Diana Bergwin, Subcommittee Staff Director
Lauren McClain, Minority Subcommittee Staff Director
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
Statements
The Honorable Michael Guest, a Representative in Congress From
the State of Mississippi, and Chairman, Subcommittee on Border
Security and Enforcement:
Oral Statement................................................. 1
Prepared Statement............................................. 3
The Honorable J. Luis Correa, a Representative in Congress From
the State of California, and Ranking Member, Subcommittee on
Border Security and Enforcement:
Oral Statement................................................. 3
Prepared Statement............................................. 5
The Honorable Dale W. Strong, a Representative in Congress From
the State of Alabama, and Chairman, Subcommittee on Emergency
Management and Technology:
Oral Statement................................................. 6
Prepared Statement............................................. 7
The Honorable Timothy M. Kennedy, a Representative in Congress
From the State of New York, and Ranking Member, Subcommittee on
Emergency Management and Technology:
Oral Statement................................................. 8
Prepared Statement............................................. 10
The Honorable Bennie G. Thompson, a Representative in Congress
From the State of Mississippi, and Ranking Member, Committee on
Homeland Security:
Prepared Statement............................................. 10
Witnesses
Mr. Bryan Farrell, Interim Director, Raspet Flight Research
Laboratory, Mississippi State University:
Oral Statement................................................. 12
Prepared Statement............................................. 13
Mr. Michael Ledbetter, Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer, COLSA Corporation:
Oral Statement................................................. 15
Prepared Statement............................................. 17
Mr. Jerry H. Hendrix, Executive Director, Rotorcraft Systems
Engineering and Simulation Center, University of Alabama in
Huntsville:
Oral Statement................................................. 19
Prepared Statement............................................. 21
Chief Kevin Fetterman, Fire Division Chief, Division 4, Orange
County Fire Authority, On Behalf of the International
Association of Fire Chiefs:
Oral Statement................................................. 25
Prepared Statement............................................. 27
For the Record
The Honorable J. Luis Correa, a Representative in Congress From
the State of California, and Ranking Member, Subcommittee on
Border Security and Enforcement:
Article, Department of Homeland Security....................... 32
EXPLORING THE USE OF UNMANNED AIR-
CRAFT SYSTEMS ACROSS THE DHS ENTER-
PRISE
----------
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
U.S. House of Representatives,
Committee on Homeland Security,
Subcommittee on Border Security
and Enforcement, and the
Subcommittee on Emergency
Management and Technology,
Washington, DC.
The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:39 p.m., in
room 310, Cannon House Office Building, Hon. Michael Guest
(Chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.
Present: Representatives Guest, Strong, Biggs, Knott,
Correa, Kennedy, and Ramirez.
Mr. Guest. Good afternoon. The Committee on Homeland
Security, Committee on Border Security and Enforcement and
Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology will now
come to order.
Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare the
committee in recess at any point.
The purpose of this hearing is to examine the Department of
Homeland Security's use of unmanned aircraft systems across
DHS's components to enhance situation awareness and increase
capabilities across its mission.
I now recognize myself for an opening statement.
Today we convene to examine the expanding role of unmanned
aircraft systems across the Department of Homeland Security.
UAS technology, more commonly simply referred to as drones,
play a critical role in border security, drug interdiction,
disaster mitigation, and emergency response.
As the United States faces evolving security threats,
drones have become an important tool, and serve as a force
multiplier for both law enforcement and first responders.
Drones can provide Federal law enforcement with faster response
times and a tactical advantage to include surveillance, remote
tracking, aid delivery, and intelligence collection.
Since 2005, the Department of Homeland Security has
integrated unmanned aircraft systems into its border security
mission. Drones have equipped Customs and Border Protection
with the ability to locate and track threats in the air, while
also increasing officer and agent safety on the ground. CBP
operates several UAS programs, including a small UAS program
enabling rapid deployment of quadrocopters to provide United
States Border Patrol agents with real-time situational
awareness. Thanks to the integration of this drone technology,
CBP seized approximately 2,800 pounds of illicit narcotics from
fiscal year 2020 through fiscal year 2023.
CBP's air and marine operations oversee the agency's large
unmanned aircraft fleet. The MQ-9s, a critical asset in border
security and surveillance operation, has extended the eyes of
agents in the land and maritime environments. Equipped with
cutting-edge radar systems, these platforms operate covertly,
significantly enhancing situational awareness, threat
detection, and interdiction capabilities to strengthen our
national security.
In addition to border security, drones are also deployed in
response to natural disasters and national emergencies. In
Mississippi, we have seen how these systems have proven
invaluable to law enforcement and first responders assisting in
search-and-rescue missions in the aftermath of hurricanes,
tornadoes, floods, fires, and other disasters.
In this ever-evolving field, partnering with private
industry and public institutions are critical to enhance law
enforcement's capabilities. DHS partnerships like the one with
Mississippi State University's Raspet Flight Research
Laboratory have contributed to multiple advances in UAS
applications.
Drones have undeniably strengthened DHS operations by
increasing efficiency, reducing manpower requirements, and
saving American lives. As technology continues to evolve, it is
imperative that DHS further develop and define these
capabilities.
I believe that Congress has a responsibility to ensure that
DHS, along with its public and private partners, has the
necessary resources to advance the critical technology in
support of national security and public safety. I hope this
hearing provides us with some concrete ideas on which this body
can act in furthering this important mission on behalf of our
fellow citizens.
Before I yield to the Ranking Member, I would like to take
a moment to thank Supervisory Special Agent Larry Martino for
his outstanding contributions to the committee. Over the past
18 months, Agent Martino has been detailed to the Border
Security and Enforcement Subcommittee where he has provided
invaluable expertise and guidance on critical border security
matters. His deep knowledge, dedication, and commitment to
strengthening our national security has been instrumental in
shaping key policy discussions and legislative initiatives.
Next week, Agent Martino will return to his home agency,
HSI, where he will continue to play a vital role in combating
transnational crime, enforcing immigration law, and protecting
our national security. I extend the committee's sincere
gratitude for his service in safeguarding our great Nation.
At this time I would like to recognize the Ranking Member
for the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement, the
gentleman from the great State of California, Mr. Correa, for
his opening statement.
[The statement of Chairman Guest follows:]
Statement of Chairman Michael Guest
April 1, 2025
Today, we convene to examine the expanding role of Unmanned
Aircraft Systems across the Department of Homeland Security. UAS
technology, more commonly referred to simply as ``drones,'' play a
critical role in border security, drug interdiction, disaster
mitigation, and emergency response. As the United States faces evolving
security threats, drones have become an important tool and serve as a
force multiplier for both law enforcement and first responders. Drones
can provide Federal law enforcement with faster response times and a
tactical advantage, to include surveillance, reconnaissance, remote
tracking, aid delivery, and intelligence collection.
Since 2005, the Department of Homeland Security has integrated
unmanned aircraft systems into its border security mission. Drones have
equipped Customs and Border Protection--CBP--with the ability to locate
and track threats in the air, while also increasing officer and agent
safety on the ground. CBP operates several UAS programs including a
small-UAS program enabling rapid deployment of quadcopters to provide
U.S. Border Patrol agents with real-time situational awareness. Thanks
to the integration of this drone technology, CBP seized approximately
2,800 pounds of illicit narcotics from fiscal year 2020 through 2023.
CBP's Air and Marine Operations oversees the agency's large
Unmanned Aircraft fleet. MQ-9s, a critical asset in border security and
surveillance operations, has extended the eyes of agents in the land
and maritime environments. Equipped with cutting-edge radar systems,
these platforms operate covertly, significantly enhancing situational
awareness, threat detection, and interdiction capabilities to
strengthen our national security.
In addition to border security, drones are also deployed in
response to natural disasters and national emergencies. In Mississippi,
we have seen how these systems have proven invaluable to law
enforcement and first responders, assisting in search-and-rescue
missions in the aftermath of hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and other
disasters.
In this ever-evolving field, partnering with private industry and
public institutions are critical to enhance law enforcement
capabilities. DHS partnerships, like with Mississippi State
University's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory, have contributed to
multiple advancements in UAS applications.
Drones have undeniably strengthened DHS operations by increasing
efficiency, reducing manpower requirements, and saving American lives.
As technology continues to evolve, it is imperative that DHS further
develop and refine these capabilities. I believe that Congress has a
responsibility to ensure that DHS, along with its public and private
partners, has the necessary resources to advance this critical
technology in support of national security and public safety. I hope
this hearing provides us with some concrete ideas on which this body
can act in furthering this important mission on behalf of our fellow
citizens.
Before I turn it over to the Ranking Member of the Border Security
and Enforcement Subcommittee, Mr./Rep. Correa, I would like to take a
moment to thank Supervisory Special Agent Larry Martino for his
outstanding contributions to the committee. Over the past 18 months,
Agent Martino has been detailed to the Border Security and Enforcement
Subcommittee, where he has provided invaluable expertise and guidance
on critical border security matters. His deep knowledge, dedication,
and commitment to strengthening our Nation's security have been
instrumental in shaping key policy discussions and legislative
initiatives. Next week, Agent Martino will return to his home agency,
Homeland Security Investigations, where he will continue to play a
vital role in combating transnational crime, enforcing immigration
laws, and protecting our national security. I extend the committee's
sincere gratitude for his service in safeguarding our great country.
Mr. Correa. Thank you, Chairman Guest and Chairman Strong,
for holding this most important hearing today. I want to thank
our guests today as well. Thank you very much.
Important hearing today on the use of unmanned aircraft
systems across DHS. Today we're going to hear about how drones
are used by the Department of Homeland Security to strengthen
disaster response, border security, and keep Americans safe.
It's important to hear from our partners in the field where the
rubber meets the road, as well as those developing these
critical technologies, about what we in Congress can do to
support Federal, State, and local partners in this effort. I
believe we also need to continue to support research in new and
emerging technologies, like drones.
With the terrible environmental disasters happening almost
on a daily basis across the country, we must support our front-
line partners with the tools that you need to do your jobs and
keep our community safe. I must say that I am concerned to see
the administration moving to dismantle FEMA and to reduce the
resources available for disaster response.
Our partners in the field are facing greater challenges in
delivering aid to those who need it the most in a timely basis.
This hearing is timely as we continue to explore how we can
better equip those in the front lines, especially as our
resources continue to shrink under this administration.
From the California wildfires to hurricanes and flooding in
Florida and North Carolina, drones can help front-line
personnel respond quickly and effectively to these situations.
For example, drones can help first responders find the quickest
route to respond to a disaster and assist with search-and-
rescue missions. As we saw during the terrible fires in
Pasadena--at Pasadena earlier this year, they can also provide
first responders and the public with real-time information.
Once disasters are contained, they can also help with damage
assessment in identifying safe routes.
Technologies such as drones not only help with disaster
response, but they also keep our communities safe, and drones
can enhance public safety by providing real-time situation
awareness. They can also help law enforcement monitor and
respond to illicit activities at the border, such as drug
trafficking. As we can see, drones also have an important role
in enhancing public safety. This is why I introduced the
bipartisan legislation earlier this year, the DRONE Act of
2025, which would allow law enforcement to use Federal grants
to purchase and operate drones.
In my discussions with law enforcement and emergency
responders, it is clear that drones play a big and bigger role
in saving lives. But as useful as the drones for law
enforcement and first responders may be, we also need to
prepare for those that use them against us. As Ranking Member
of the Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee, I've heard
that cartels will use drones to carry drugs across the border
and surveil men and women of DHS at the front lines.
Last year, the top general for U.S. Northern Command
testified in the Senate Armed Services Committee that drone
incursions along our Southern Border likely exceed 1,000 per
month. The threats posed by drones at our border increase the
need to understand how DHS uses drones and is it set up
sufficiently well to encounter and stop these drones. I hope
the committee will continue to do its good work so that our
front-line officers can continue to be equipped to do the best
job that they can protecting American citizens.
It's also vital that the Federal Government collaborate
with research centers, the private sector, with venture
capitalists to develop and adopt cost-effective innovative
technologies such as drones and counter-drone systems to help
confront the challenges that are essentially on top of us now.
We in Congress must continue to work together to create
constructive opportunities for DHS, our State and local
partners, to utilize new technologies to effectively respond to
disasters, to save lives, to protect national security, to help
trade, travel, and keep our community safe.
I look forward to this hearing today, look forward to
taking notes from our witnesses about the recommendations you
all may have regarding drones, countering drones, and
protecting American lives.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With that, I yield back.
[The statement of Ranking Member Correa follows:]
Statement of Ranking Member J. Luis Correa
April 1, 2025
Today we'll hear about how Unmanned Aircraft Systems, specifically
drones, are used by the Department of Homeland Security to strengthen
disaster response, border security, and the safety of Americans. It is
important to hear from our partners in the field, as well as those
developing these critical technologies, about what we can do in
Congress to support our Federal, State, and local partners. We also
need to continue to support research in new and emerging technologies,
like drones.
Particularly with the terrible environmental disasters devastating
communities across the country in recent years, we must support our
front-line partners with the tools needed to do their jobs and keep our
communities safe. However, I am concerned to see the administration
move to dismantle FEMA, and reduce the resources available for disaster
response. Our partners in the field are facing greater challenges in
delivering aid to those who need it most.
This hearing is timely as we continue to explore how we can better
equip those on the front lines, especially as their resources shrink
under the Trump administration. From the California wildfires to
hurricanes and flooding in Florida and North Carolina, environmental
disasters regularly create life-and-death situations.
Drones can help front-line personnel respond quickly and
effectively to these situations. For example, drones can help first
responders find the quickest route to respond to a disaster and assist
with search-and-rescue operations. As we saw during the terrible fire
in Pasadena earlier this year, they can also provide first responders
and the public with information in real time.
Once the disaster is contained, they can also help with damage
assessments and identifying safe routes. Technologies such as drones
not only help with disaster response, but they also keep our
communities safe. Drones can enhance public safety by providing real-
time situational awareness to law enforcement during active crimes or
hazardous material spills. They can also help law enforcement monitor
and respond to illegal activities at the border such as drug
trafficking.
As we can see, drones have an important role in enhancing public
safety. This is why I introduced bipartisan legislation earlier this
year--the Directing Resources for Officers Navigating Emergencies
(DRONE) Act of 2025, which would allow law enforcement to use Federal
grants to purchase and operate drones.
In my discussions with law enforcement and emergency responders,
it's clear that drones play a big part in saving lives. And will
continue to play an ever-growing role in protecting our communities and
responding to emergencies. By continuing to unlock their potential, we
can save taxpayers millions and make our streets safer. It's a win-win.
But as useful as drones are for law enforcement and first responders,
we also need to be prepared for adversaries to use them against us.
As Ranking Member of the Border Security and Enforcement
Subcommittee, I've heard that cartels will use drones to carry drugs
across the border and surveil the men and women of DHS on the front
lines. Last year, the top general for U.S. Northern Command testified
to the Senate Armed Services Committee that drone incursions along the
Southern Border likely exceed 1,000 a month.
The threats posed by drones at our border increase the need to
understand how DHS uses drones and also how they are set up to counter
the drones. I hope the committee will continue its good work on that
front in the future. It's also vital that the Federal Government
collaborate with research centers, the private sector, and venture
capital to develop and adopt cost-effective and innovative technologies
such as drones and counter-drone systems to help confront the
challenges we face.
We in Congress must continue to work together to create
opportunities for DHS, and our State and local partners to utilize new
technologies to effectively respond to disasters, save lives protect
national security, facilitate trade and travel, and keep our
communities safe.
I look forward to hearing from our witnesses about the
recommendations they have regarding drones and counter-drone technology
which can help secure our border and make our communities safer.
Mr. Guest. Thank you, Ranking Member Correa.
I now recognize the Chairman for the Subcommittee on
Emergency Management and Technology, the gentleman from
Alabama, Mr. Strong, for his opening statement.
Mr. Strong. Good afternoon. Thank you, my friend, Chairman
Michael Guest of Mississippi, for leading this important
discussion, and Ranking Member Correa, and to all Members for
being here today. I want to also thank our witnesses for their
time, for sharing their expertise.
Let me start by shining a light on my district, Alabama's
Fifth, which I'm proud to say is well-represented on this panel
today. As many of you know, Huntsville, Alabama, is renowned
for its leadership in cutting-edge research and development. As
home to Redstone Arsenal, the Nation's second-largest research
park and several universities, Huntsville is a thriving hub for
American innovation. I'm glad we have such an excellent panel
here, and look forward to our discussion.
Today we're here to explore how our Homeland Security
partners use unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS, and how this
technology can be a force multiplier for law enforcement, first
responders, CBP, and the DHS mission set. Emerging technologies
like UAS are reshaping the way we respond to disasters. Drones
enable the protection of emergency management personnel in
high-risk situations, while at the same time increasing the
effectiveness of the work that they do.
For example, small UAS with sophisticated cameras assist in
monitoring critical infrastructure and assessing damage. When
equipped with AI, these drones can spot potential flood zones
or identify hot spots and wildfires. The data collected from
this--these flights equip first responders with the tools to
better allocate manpower, vehicles, and victim assistance.
Larger drones with heavier payload capacity and longer
flight times are also critical tools in disaster management.
Rapid deployment and agility enable UAS to access hazardous
areas that first responders cannot reach, which proves
especially useful when trying to locate survivors or deliver
supplies.
In response to Hurricane Helene, the Ashville Police
Department deployed drones for search and rescue, damage
assessment, and overwatch for FEMA. Additionally, prepositioned
UAS in western Florida quickly deployed in response to
Hurricane Milton to track the storms and provide real-time data
to law enforcement and first responders. Two hundred flight
hours across 16 agencies were recorded, representing over 1,000
flights flown in the first days following the storm. This
helped to create a common operating picture that enabled first
responders to allocate much-needed resources. This technology
helped save countless lives in the wake of these moments of the
storm.
DHS has also utilized UAS to safeguard our borders. They
leverage this technology to protect our homeland from illegal
crossings and combat illicit activities, such as human and drug
smuggling. CBP faces tremendous challenges from dangerous
environments and a broadening mission set to adversaries that
continue to evolve their tactics and capabilities. Drone
technology decreases the workload on CBP agents and provided
critical situation awareness to paint a comprehensive picture
of the threats impacting our border.
Additionally, DHS's Science and Technology Directorate
leads Government-wide UAS research to counter threats and
improve response in recovery operations for disasters. For
example, S&T's Air Domain Awareness program detects, tracks,
and identifies aircraft to prevent and respond to criminal
activities along the border. Also, S&T's National Urban
Security Technology Laboratory manages the SAVER program. This
initiative helps emergency responders and law enforcement make
informed, cost-effective equipment purchases that meets
national standards.
On top of these programs, S&T is leading critical
development in counter-UAS ensuring operational components can
defend against nefarious actors. This work is supported by
universities and industry partners, reflecting a collaborative
public-private partnership across all sectors.
As the use of these technologies become more commonplace,
these partnerships are critical so that UAS can be safely
utilized to their fullest potential. I look forward to today's
conversation learning more about great work that our witnesses
are doing in this space.
I'd also like to mention and recognize the CEO of COLSA
Corporation, Francisco Collazo, who is not with us today. He's
back home at the headquarters in Huntsville, Alabama. He's been
a friend of mine for many years, and I know that this
organization does a phenomenal job.
I also want to mention the University of Alabama
Huntsville. I live within 5 minutes of the University of
Alabama in Huntsville, and I can tell you today UAH is a
critical part to national security; with our average ACT test
score of a 28.5, a little less than 10,000 students, where 80
percent of them choose never to leave after graduation to work
in national security.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back. It's an honor to be here, and I
want to thank our guests for joining us.
[The statement of Chairman Strong follows:]
Statement of Honorable Dale W. Strong
Good afternoon.
Thank you to my friend, Chairman Guest, for leading this important
discussion and to all the Members for being here today.
I want to also thank our witnesses for their time and for sharing
their expertise.
Let me start by shining a light on my district, Alabama's 5th,
which I'm proud to say is well-represented on this panel today.
As many of you know, Huntsville, Alabama is renowned for its
leadership in cutting-edge research and development.
As home to Redstone Arsenal, the Nation's second-largest research
park, and several universities including UAH, Huntsville is a thriving
hub for American innovation.
I am glad we have such an excellent panel here and look forward to
our discussion.
Today we're here to explore how our homeland security partners use
Unmanned Aircraft Systems, or UAS, and how this technology can be a
force multiplier for law enforcement, first responders, CBP, and the
DHS mission set.
Emerging technologies like UAS are reshaping the way we respond to
disasters.
Drones enable visibility and capability--allowing for the
protection of emergency management personnel in high-risk situations,
while at the same time increasing the effectiveness of the work they
do.
For example--small UAS with sophisticated cameras assist in
monitoring critical infrastructure and assessing damage.
When equipped with AI, these drones can spot potential flood zones
or identify hot spots in wildfires.
The data collected from these flights equips first responders with
the tools to better allocate manpower, vehicles, and victim assistance.
Larger drones with heavier payload capacity and longer flight times
are also critical tools in disaster management.
Rapid deployment and agility enable UAS to access hazardous areas
that first responders cannot reach, which proves especially useful when
trying to locate survivors or deliver supplies.
In response to Hurricane Helene, the Asheville Police Department
deployed drones for search and rescue, damage assessment, and overwatch
for FEMA.
Additionally, pre-positioned UAS in western Florida were quickly
deployed in response to Hurricane Milton to track the storm and provide
real-time data to law enforcement and first responders.
Two hundred flight hours across 16 agencies were recorded,
representing over 1,000 flights flown in the first days following the
storm.
This helped to create a common operating picture that enabled first
responders to allocate much-needed resources.
This technology has helped save countless lives in the wake of
these storms.
DHS also utilizes UAS to safeguard our borders. They can leverage
this technology to protect our homeland from illegal crossings and
combat illicit activities such as human and drug smuggling.
The CBP faces tremendous challenges, from dangerous environments
and a broadening mission set to adversaries that continue to evolve
their tactics and capabilities.
Drone technology decreases the workload on CBP agents and provides
critical situational awareness to paint a comprehensive picture of the
threats impacting our border.
In addition to the use of drones to support operational efforts,
DHS's Science and Technology Directorate also leads Government-wide UAS
research to counter threats and improve response and recovery
operations for disasters.
For example, S&T's Air Domain Awareness program detects, tracks,
and identifies aircraft to prevent and respond to criminal activities
along the border.
Also, S&T's National Urban Security Technology Laboratory manages
the SAVER program.
This initiative helps emergency responders and law enforcement make
informed, cost-effective equipment purchases that meet national
standards.
On top of these programs, S&T is leading critical developments in
counter-UAS, ensuring operational components can defend against
nefarious actors.
This work is supported by universities and industry partners,
reflecting a collaborative public-private partnership across all
sectors.
As the use of these technologies becomes more commonplace,
collaboration is critical so that these devices can be safely operated
in a commercial environment and utilized to their full potential.
I look forward to today's conversation and learning more about the
great work our witnesses are doing in this space.
Again, thank you all for being here today and I yield back.
Mr. Guest. Thank you, Chairman Strong.
I now recognize the Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on
Emergency Management and Technology, the gentleman from New
York, Mr. Kennedy, for his opening statement.
Mr. Kennedy. Thank you, Chairman, and also thanks to my
fellow Ranking Members.
Good afternoon. Thank you to each and every one of you for
being here today to discuss the use of unmanned aerial systems
by the Department of Homeland Security. However, I want to
begin by discussing the alarming remarks and actions by the
White House and the Department of Homeland Security Secretary
Noem.
Just last week, Secretary Noem stated on national
television that ``we are going to eliminate FEMA''. This,
disturbingly, received immediate praise from President Trump.
Reportedly, Secretary Noem is active discuss--is in active
discussions with FEMA leadership about dismantling the agency
by October 1, a reckless move that could leave millions of
Americans vulnerable to the impacts of natural disasters, like
hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, wildfires, and floods,
without any Federal assistance.
It's deeply concerning that today's hearing isn't solely
focused on holding this administration accountable for its
plans to dismantle the only Federal agency solely dedicated to
assisting Americans in the aftermath of disasters. I encourage
my Republican colleagues, many of whom have had disasters in
their districts, to take action to prevent this administration
from doing irreparable harm to the American people by
dismantling FEMA.
While today's hearing is about drones, the unfortunate
reality is that the Trump White House continues to create
obstacles that jeopardize the very programs that we're
discussing.
The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology
Directorate has played a crucial role in integrating unmanned
aerial systems in the national security and emergency response
efforts. However, the reckless mass firings by Elon Musk and
President Trump have hindered S&T's work force in its capacity
to innovate and lead. At the same time, the administration's
freeze on Federal grants, which is being carried out in
violation of court orders, has left communities and first
responders unable to secure the vital funding needed for
acquiring and deploying drone technology.
Grant funding from the Department of Homeland Security has
been instrumental in funding local law enforcement seeking to
adopt drone technology. However, under Republican House
leadership, we've seen a 10 percent reduction in DHS grant
programs in fiscal year 2024, followed by similarly inadequate
funding levels in fiscal year 2025. This has significantly
hampered local agencies' ability to acquire critical technology
like drones.
This is especially impactful for western New Yorkers, the
people I represent, where emergency services, law enforcement,
fire departments, and other agencies rely on Federal grant
funding to deploy drone technologies and disaster response.
I can name many different examples of this, but first
responders are oftentimes utilizing drone technology in
critical missions in my community. For instance, late last
year, Buffalo police used drones during extremely cold
temperatures to locate and rescue a man who had become
disoriented in the snow, bringing him to safety. Without
adequate funding, local agencies may be unable to respond to
future emergencies as effectively as they otherwise could.
Ensuring our local agencies are equipped and funded is not
just a matter of policy, but a commitment to the safety and
resilience of our communities. I look forward to discussing
today how we can promote responsible law enforcement use of
drones to equip our first responders with the tools they need
to protect and serve effectively.
I thank you all for your testimony and your service, and
look forward to hearing from you.
With that, I yield back. Thank you, Chairman.
[The statement of Ranking Member Kennedy follows:]
Statement of Ranking Member Timothy M. Kennedy
April 1, 2025
Just last week, Secretary Noem stated on national television that
``We are going to eliminate FEMA.'' This, disturbingly, received
immediate praise from President Trump.
Reportedly, Secretary Noem is in active discussions with FEMA
leadership about dismantling the agency by October 1--a reckless move
that could leave millions of Americans vulnerable to the impacts of
natural disasters like hurricanes, winter storms, wildfires, tornadoes,
and floods--and without any Federal assistance.
It is deeply concerning that today's hearing isn't solely focused
on holding this administration accountable for its plans to dismantle
the only Federal agency solely dedicated to assisting Americans in the
aftermath of disasters. I encourage my Republican colleagues, many of
whom have had disasters hit their districts, to take action to prevent
this administration from doing irreparable harm to the American people
by dismantling FEMA.
While today's hearing is about drones, the unfortunate reality is
that the Trump White House continues to create obstacles that
jeopardize the very programs we are discussing. The Department of
Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has played
a crucial role in integrating unmanned aerial systems into national
security and emergency response efforts. However, the reckless mass
firings by Elon Musk and President Trump have hindered S&T's workforce
and its capacity to innovate and lead.
At the same time, the administration's freeze on Federal grants,
which is being carried out in violation of court orders, has left
communities and first responders unable to secure the vital funding
needed for acquiring and deploying drone technology.
Grant funding from the Department of Homeland Security has been
instrumental in funding local law enforcement seeking to adopt drone
technology. However, under Republican House leadership, we have seen a
10 percent reduction in DHS grant programs in fiscal year 2024,
followed by similarly inadequate funding levels in fiscal year 2025.
This has significantly hampered local agencies' ability to acquire
critical technologies like drones. This is especially impactful for
western New Yorkers, where emergency services--law enforcement, fire
departments, and other agencies--rely on Federal grant funding to
deploy drone technologies in disaster response.
First responders in my community rely on drones for critical
missions. For instance, late last year, Buffalo Police used drones
during extremely cold temperatures to locate and rescue a man who had
become disoriented in the snow, bringing him to safety. Without
adequate funding, local agencies may be unable to respond to future
emergencies like this one as effectively as they could. Ensuring our
local agencies are equipped and funded is not just a matter of policy
but a commitment to the safety and resilience of our communities.
I look forward to discussing today how we can promote responsible
law enforcement use of drones to equip our first responders with the
tools they need to protect and serve effectively.
Mr. Guest. Thank you, Ranking Member Kennedy.
Other Members of the committee are reminded opening
statements may be submitted for the record.
[The statement of Ranking Member Thompson follows:]
Statement of Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson
April 1, 2025
Drones are invaluable tools for law enforcement and fire
departments. They assist with aerial surveillance, damage assessments,
search-and-rescue operations, and monitoring large-scale wildfires--
tasks once handled by crewed aircraft. DHS components like Customs and
Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, Secret Service,
the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), and FEMA use drones for
critical operations.
In my home State of Mississippi, drones have played a vital role in
assessing the damage caused by the devastating tornadoes that hit my
district in 2023, which claimed the lives of at least 21 people.
However, as we discuss the use of drones today, President Trump and
Elon Musk are relentlessly attacking the very agencies working to
secure the homeland.
Just last week, Secretary Noem and other Trump-Musk administration
officials discussed dismantling the one agency dedicated to serving
Americans after a disaster: FEMA. Secretary Noem is proud of this
misguided effort, saying ``we're going to eliminate FEMA.'' News
outlets are reporting that FEMA may be abolished by October.
The Trump administration's reckless push to eliminate FEMA is
dangerous and a betrayal of Americans in need of support during the
most vulnerable moments of their lives--when disasters strike. FEMA is
not just an agency; it's the lifeline that provides critical aid to
communities before, during, and after disasters.
By attempting to dismantle FEMA, the administration is weakening
the very infrastructure designed to keep Americans safe. With hurricane
and tornado seasons just around the corner, this move will leave our
communities even more vulnerable. Unfortunately, my colleagues across
the aisle remain silent--complicit in this dangerous erosion of our
homeland security.
FEMA also administers vital homeland security grant programs that
defend us against the very real threat of terrorism. Many of these
grant programs have been unlawfully paused by the Trump administration.
Grants also fund the use of drones by first responders in our
communities. Yet these critical grant programs have been either gutted,
put on hold, or slowed down by the Trump-Musk administration. Again, my
Republican colleagues remain silent.
Mr. Chairman, by failing to protect FEMA's programs that support
each of our districts. The Majority should be bringing administration
officials here to testify about their actions and plans and make sure
they preserve FEMA and critical homeland security grants programs.
Instead, committee Republicans have abdicated their oversight
obligations and our Nation's homeland security will suffer as a result.
Mr. Guest. I'm pleased to welcome our panel of witnesses.
At this time I would ask our witnesses to please rise and to
please raise your right hand. I will now issue the oath.
[Witnesses sworn.]
Mr. Guest. Let the record reflect that the witnesses have
answered in the affirmative.
Thank you, and please be seated.
I would now like to briefly formally introduce our
witnesses.
The first witness is Mr. Bryan Farrell. Bryan is the
interim director of the Mississippi State University's Raspet
Flight Research Laboratory, which is one of the leading
academic research centers dedicated to the advancement of
aviation. Mr. Farrell previously led the university's
international research partnership and professional development
efforts at his international institution.
Our second witness is Dr. Michael Ledbetter. Dr. Ledbetter
is the executive vice president and chief operating officer at
COLSA Corporation, where he oversees strategic operations.
Previously, he served as senior vice president for COLSA's
Cyber/Information Warfare and Data Science Program. Before
joining COLSA, Dr. Ledbetter served for 28 years as a United
States Marine officer.
Our third witness is Mr. Jerry Hendrix. Mr. Hendrix is the
director of the UAS program at the University of Alabama in
Huntsville, leading all UAS research and testing support, both
commercial, military, and Government customers. Mr. Hendrix has
many years of experience in the aerospace industry.
Our final witness is Chief Kevin Fetterman. Chief Fetterman
currently serves as the division chief for the Orange County
Fire Authority, where he leads fire, rescue, and other
emergency services. Chief Fetterman is the emerging technology
liaison for Orange County and all the--for Orange County and
the all-hazard incident management team program manager. He has
over 29 years of fire and emergency services experience.
I would like to thank all our witnesses for being here
today. The witnesses' full testimony will appear in the record.
I would now recognize Mr. Farrell for 5 minutes to summarize
his opening statement.
STATEMENT OF BRYAN FARRELL, INTERIM DIRECTOR,
RASPET FLIGHT RESEARCH LABORATORY, MISSISSIPPI
STATE UNIVERSITY
Mr. Farrell. Thank you.
Good day, Chairman Guest, Chairman Strong, Ranking Members
Correa and Kennedy, and the honorable Members of the
subcommittees. I want to thank you and your staff for welcoming
me here today to talk about UAS as it pertains to the needs of
the Department of Homeland Security and, more broadly, our
domestic security and resiliency.
My name is Bryan Farrell. I'm the interim director of the
Raspet Flight Research Lab at Mississippi State University and
the lead for Project JUSTICE. This program is housed within DHS
S&T, under the Air, Land, and Ports of Entry Program. The
primary mission is to serve the operational entities within DHS
through research, development, testing, integration, and
evaluation of UAS and related technologies.
Raspet has a proud 75-year history in aerospace research,
with a keen focus the last 15 years on the newest frontier of
aviation, UAS. Raspet maintains a fleet of UAS and manned
aircraft, including the largest UAS in academic use, the Navmar
Teros. Raspet leverages MSU property and external partnerships
to operate at a myriad of test locations, to include restricted
air space as well as over 75,000 square miles of FAA-authorized
air space.
We are also the house of the ASSURE Center of Excellence
for UAS for the FAA, where we work with 32 other universities
and test sites to integrate UAS into the national air space
system. Through our designations and expertise, we serve
industry, Government partners to advance UAS technologies for
their missions.
In the spirit of today's hearing, I hope to provide
insights not only into the benefits and use cases of UAS, but
also an understanding of the considerations and efforts that
support the integration of this technology. UAS are common in
daily operations across industry and Government alike. These
aircraft augment and enhance capabilities and provide
perspectives that operational units may not always be able to
access.
Drones provide situational awareness paramount to
individual safety and security, whether that be in the
execution of high-risk law enforcement activity or in the
aftermath of a disaster where life-saving operations are under
way. DHS component missions require integration of different
UAS platforms, sensors, and operational parameters.
Even within a single DHS component such as CBP, you see a
vast different usage of UAS types. For example, broad area
border surveillance requires a platform capable of the
necessary endurance and operational distance, while an agent
engaged in tactical operations may need to carry a small UAS
that can be deployed in confined environments.
Beyond the UAS selected, the components also need to
establish protocols and flight authorizations. They need to
understand sensors and sensor availabilities for the platforms
and how that data will be viewed, stored, and distributed. They
need to make decisions based on the costs and maintenance of
the aircraft, and all of these considerations exist within a
policy backdrop and legal constraints about where the device is
made and the critical components come from. These are just some
of the variables that underpin how UAS get employed within the
DHS enterprise.
Why UAS get deployed comes down to efficiency and safety.
Looking at the last 2 examples, traditional broad area
surveillance requires expensive, crude aircraft, a network of
sensors, or something like a satellite feed. These options can
be expensive and can oftentimes be unreliable. A UAS, by
contrast, efficiently integrates into ground operations at a
lower initial and operational cost point, while potentially
having greater endurance and a higher-quality data feed.
The tactical community is a great example of enhanced
safety. Portability and maneuverability are paramount when
these teams are executing high risk of operations. A manned
portable small UAS can be rapidly deployed to provide
situational awareness crucial for informed decision making.
Shifting gears from law enforcement to emergency
management, this past hurricane season provided countless
examples of UAS being utilized for response and recovery.
Raspet's own operations supported Region 4 UAS/remote sensing
coordinator and other stakeholders in leveraging our largest
UAS, the Teros, for disaster response, where in the aftermath
we broadcast live video and live tiled imagery to a myriad of
stakeholders, including the White House. This facilitated
faster response, faster recovery, and significantly improved
the damage assessments.
Raspet is quite fortunate to engage deeply in all aspects
of UAS, including the technical and regulatory complexities
required to operationalize. It provides us with a good vantage
point to understand those pesky ``it depends'' scenarios that
often arise around UAS.
I look forward to engaging more deeply about our work at
Mississippi State University and providing greater insights
into the benefits of UAS for DHS and the needs associated with
integrating this technology. Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Farrell follows:]
Prepared Statement of Bryan Farrell
April 1, 2025
Good day Chairman Guest, Chairman Strong, Ranking Members Correa
and Kennedy, and the honorable Members of the Subcommittee on Border
Security and Enforcement and the Subcommittee on Emergency Management
and Technology.
I want to thank you and your staff for welcoming me here today to
discuss UAS, or drone technology, as it pertains to needs for the
Department of Homeland Security and more broadly our domestic security
and resiliency.
My name is Bryan Farrell, and I am the interim director for the
Raspet Flight Research Laboratory at Mississippi State University. I am
also the principal investigator for Project JUSTICE or the Joint
Unmanned Systems Testing in a Collaborative Environment. Project
JUSTICE is a program housed within DHS Science and Technology under the
Air, Land, and Ports of Entry portfolio. The primary mission of JUSTICE
is to serve the operational entities within DHS through research,
development, testing, integration, and evaluation of UAS and related
technologies. Mississippi State University is also the chair of the
Federal Aviation Administration's Center of Excellence for UAS known as
the Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence, or
ASSURE, where Raspet collaborates with 32 other universities and many
UAS test sites to execute the research necessary for integration of UAS
into the national air space system (NAS) as well as develop and deliver
first responder UAS training. Raspet has a proud 75-year history in
Aerospace research and development with keen focus these last 15 years
on the newest frontier of aviation, UAS. Raspet maintains a fleet of
UAS and manned aircraft including the largest UAS in academic use, the
NASC Teros. Raspet leverages MSU property and external partnerships to
operate at a myriad of test locations to include restricted air space
and 75,000 square miles of COA air space. Through our designations and
expertise, we serve industry and Government partners to advance UAS
technologies for their mission.
In the spirit of today's hearing titled ``Exploring the Use of
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Across the DHS Enterprise'' I hope to be able
to provide insights into not only the benefits and use-cases of UAS as
a tool, but also an understanding of the considerations and efforts
that support the integration of this technology. UAS have become a
ubiquitous feature in daily operations across many industries and
certainly within the DHS mission set. These aircraft augment and
enhance capabilities and provide perspectives that operational units
may not always be able to access. UAS also provide situational
awareness paramount to individual safety and security, whether that be
in the execution of a high-risk law enforcement activity or in the
aftermath of a disaster where life-saving operations are under way.
DHS being a complex organization, components will utilize drones in
very different ways. The component's mission will require integration
of different UAS platforms, sensors, and operational parameters. Even
within a single DHS component such as Customs and Border Protection you
could see vastly different UAS types and uses. As an example, a
platform capable of the necessary endurance and operational distance
required for broad area border surveillance in remote regions would not
be a UAS platform beneficial for something like tactical operations
where an agent may need to physically carry the UAS and deploy into
confined environments. In addition to the UAS selected for the mission,
the component may need to establish protocols or authorizations for
integration of the aircraft into the national air space system,
understand the types of sensors available for that platform and how the
data will be viewed, stored, or distributed as well as make a decision
based on the costs associated with procurement and maintenance of the
aircraft versus other platforms or processes. All these considerations
exist within a backdrop of policy and legal constraints around where
the device, or critical components within the device, are manufactured.
These are just some of the variables that underpin the conversation
about how UAS get employed within the DHS enterprise. Why UAS get
deployed comes down to efficiency and safety. Let us take the 2
examples above to highlight where efficiencies and safety exist.
Traditional broad area surveillance may require expensive manned
aircraft operations, a network of sensors that are costly to deploy and
potentially come with their own technical risk and challenges, or
advanced geospatial solutions that are not always available. A UAS by
contrast can integrate into the operational envelope of the agents on
the ground at a lower initial and operational cost point while
potentially having greater endurance and a higher-quality data feed. As
an example of enhanced safety let's examine the needs of the tactical
community where portability and maneuverability are paramount when
executing things like high-risk warrants or attempting to bring
peaceful resolution to hostage situations. A small UAS with the ability
to be carried and deployed inside a structure to provide situational
awareness is crucial for informed decision making.
During this past hurricane season there were countless examples of
UAS utilized for response and recovery efforts. In the Federal
Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Region 4 where MSU and Raspet are
located, we have worked with the Region 4 UAS/Remote Sensing
Coordinator and other stakeholders to explore the usage and integration
of large UAS for disaster response. Raspet's largest aircraft, the
Teros, has the capacity to operate all day with distributed video and
imagery to stakeholders. This was the first time that in the immediate
aftermath of a large disaster, FEMA and other stakeholders were able to
view live aerial imagery and communicate mission assignments with the
aircraft in mid-flight. This live broadcast, facilitated by Project
JUSTICE, was disseminated to an extensive network of stakeholders. We
were notified that the White House was observing the live coverage of
the damage, significantly expediting the damage assessment evaluation
process. Beyond Raspet operations, first responders and other
government agencies leveraged UAS for search and rescue, damage
assessment, ingress/egress, critical infrastructure assessments,
medical or supply delivery, and multiple other uses. It is in
situations such as this that UAS showcase, very publicly, their value
to the American people. The disaster response use-cases do not stop at
natural disasters either. There are many examples where a first
responder may want to leverage a UAS during situations that are man-
made. If we look at Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear
(CBRN)-type events, the advantage of a stand-off distance as well as
complex sensors can minimize risk to the first responder while
increasing situational awareness and provide decisions such as triage
or evacuation planning. These examples of use-cases and technological
innovations highlight only a few of the many uses of UAS within DHS.
Raspet is quite fortunate to engage deeply in all aspects of UAS.
The complexities associated with operationalizing the technology from
both a regulatory and technical perspective provide us with a good
vantage point to understand those pesky ``it depends'' scenarios that
often arise around UAS. I look forward to engaging more deeply about
our work at Mississippi State University and providing greater insights
into the benefits of UAS for DHS and the needs associated with
integration of this technology.
Mr. Guest. Thank you, Mr. Farrell.
I now recognize Dr. Ledbetter for 5 minutes to summarize
his opening statement.
STATEMENT OF MICHAEL LEDBETTER, EXECUTIVE VICE
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, COLSA COR-
PORATION
Mr. Ledbetter. Good afternoon, Chairman Strong and Guest,
Ranking Members Kennedy and Correa, and Members of the
subcommittee. I'm Mike Ledbetter, chief operating officer for
COLSA Corporation, a Huntsville-based--Huntsville, Alabama-
based engineering services firm and drone manufacturer.
On behalf of our founder and chairman, 30-year Army
veteran, Mr. Frank Collazo, I'm pleased to testify before your
subcommittees today to discuss the importance of promoting
innovation and security in the unmanned aircraft systems
industry.
COLSA began designing, developing, and manufacturing small
UASes in 2019. Since then, we've manufactured and delivered
over 1,400 UASes to the Army, developed software to swarm large
numbers of UASes, and recently developed a line of
commercially-available UASes.
The concept for COLSA's original work was developed as
lower-cost systems with increasing capability began flooding
the commercial market. At the same time, the threat from swarms
of UASes was becoming better understood. Some of these risks
include saturating air defense systems, electronic warfare
capabilities able to jam communications, disrupt radars, or
spoof the location of enemy systems. COLSA is now a leading
provider of low-cost, nondevelopmental, deployable group 1 and
group 2 swarm UASes. These systems support unit training and
operations and aid in testing counter UAS technologies. The
program also provides soldiers with a low-workload, easy-to-use
command-and-control system, enabling a single operator to
control the swarm up to 100 UASes simultaneously.
In 2023, COLSA invested in an internal research and
development, IR&D program, to leverage our extensive domain
expertise and talent pool to develop UAS designs that are
better suited for commercial and civil agency applications,
with an array of sensors and payloads to address several
emergency response and border security use cases, such as
delivering medical and humanitarian supplies, search and
rescue, disaster assessment, and communications resiliency.
One of the challenges the industry faces is balancing the
availability of new UASes, components, and features that
address genuine needs with the ability to obtain independent
third-party compliance assessments. As the committee is aware,
Federal Government agencies are restricted from procuring or
operating UASes or UAS components manufactured by foreign
entities. The dilemma, however, is that there are very few
certifying bodies that can assess UASes and ensure they meet
the strict security and compliance standards. Further, the
organizations that do exist operate with resources too limited
to maintain the pace with UAS innovation.
For example, the Defense Innovation Unit, DIU, held a Blue
UAS Refresh Challenge with the purpose of verifying the
submitted systems compliance with the supply chain restrictions
and cybersecurity best practices. There were 369 submissions
that participated in this once-a-year refresh challenge.
However, there were only enough resources to accept 23
platforms and 14 other components. These rates do not match the
pace that American drone manufacturers are producing new
systems or developing advanced technologies that could support
emergency management or border security use cases.
The impact is that Federal and State agencies who had
previously invested in fleets of UASes manufactured in
restricted nations now have very few and increasingly expensive
options for bringing their UAS operations into compliance.
COLSA is well-positioned--well-structured to do business with
these Government agencies at very low risk. However, there's a
challenging process to be evaluated and certified for sales to
either defense or civil agencies.
For UASes to be able to reach their potential in the use
cases mentioned, several technologies need to be developed and
matured to include but not limited to beyond visual line of
sight, BVLOS, operations that require long-range communications
over a variety of networks with reliable data links for real-
time data transmission. Artificial intelligence and on-board
processing must progress so that UASes can detect and avoid
obstacles, self-determine route planning, and make mission-
driven decisions during BVLOS operations.
Battery technology struggles to provide the necessary power
for extended flight times. Currently, China still manufactures
70 to 80 percent of the world's lithium-ion batteries. We thank
Congress for securing the UAS technology supply chain as it is
an essential step to shore up vulnerabilities from foreign
exploitation.
To maintain capacity and allow for greater competition in
the market, we must open the aperture in approving compliant
UAS technologies and platforms for both defense and civil
agency use. This could be achieved through streamlined
evaluations, additional certifying bodies, and automation.
Finally, we hope you will support research and development
in the technology areas that support BVLOS operations, improve
domestic production capacity, and improve battery technology.
I greatly appreciate the opportunity to address this
committee and would happily take your questions. Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Ledbetter follows:]
Statement of Michael Ledbetter
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
introduction
Good morning, Chairs Strong and Guest, Ranking Members Kennedy and
Correa, and Members of the subcommittee. I am Mike Ledbetter, chief
operating officer for COLSA Corporation, a Huntsville, AL-based
engineering services firm and drone manufacturer. On behalf of our sole
proprietor and 30-year Army veteran, Mr. Frank Collazo, I am pleased to
testify before your subcommittees today to discuss the importance of
promoting innovation and security in the unmanned aircraft systems
(UAS) industry. COLSA began designing, developing, and manufacturing
small UAS in 2019 was awarded an Other Transaction Authority (OTA)
through the Vertical Lift Consortium (VLC) of the Aviation & Missile
Technology Consortium (AMTC). Since then, we have manufactured and
delivered over 1,400 UAS to the Army, developed software to swarm large
numbers of UAS, and recently developed a line of commercially-available
UAS.
lessons from assessing the threat
The concept for COLSA's original OTA was developed as lower-cost
systems with increasing capability began flooding the commercial
market. At the same time, the threat from swarms of UAS was becoming
better understood. Some of these risks include:
Saturating air defense systems causing the use of expensive
interceptor missiles on inexpensive drones,
Coordinated attacks at multiple sensitive sites
simultaneously,
Distributed and redundant operations that can withstand
losses of individual drones without disruption of the attack
mission,
Electronic warfare capabilities, able to jam communications,
disrupt radars, or spoof the location of enemy systems.
Following the successful completion of the OTA, COLSA was awarded a
contract that transitioned into a Program of Record pathway. Through
these contracts, COLSA has designed and developed highly-reliable and -
resilient UAS, and manufactured thousands of units currently deployed
worldwide. We also developed software to coordinate UAS swarming. COLSA
is now a leading provider of low-cost, non-developmental, deployable
Group 1 and Group 2 Swarm UAS. As the Prime contractor, the primary
objective of drone program is to provide realistic responses to
emerging battlespace threats from UAS by rapidly designing,
manufacturing, producing, and delivering representative threat
capabilities. These systems support unit training and operations at
Combat Training Centers (CTCs) and aid in testing Counter-UAS (C-UAS)
technologies at Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) ranges. The
program also provides soldiers with a low workload, easy-to-use
command-and-control system, enabling a single operator to control a
swarm of up to 100 UAS simultaneously. This capability significantly
reduces personnel workload, acts as a force multiplier for UAS
operations, and enhances coverage and persistence (time-over-target).
In 2023, COLSA invested in an Internal Research and Development
(IR&D) program to leverage our extensive domain expertise and talent
pool to develop UAS designs that are better suited for commercial and
civil agency applications such as disaster response, search and rescue,
law enforcement and security, surveillance, infrastructure inspection,
precision agriculture, surveying and mapping, utility and
transportation monitoring, insurance assessments, and construction. We
are now positioning our systems and services for commercial sales and
for contracts with civil agencies in addition to our continued support
of Department of Defense (DoD) clients.
In fact, we have designed our commercial systems to address a
number of emergency response and border security use cases such as:
Delivering Medical and Humanitarian Supplies.--UAS are able
access difficult terrain and dangerous areas with greater speed
and less risk to first responders.
Search and Rescue.--Our systems can carry advanced thermal
sensors to find missing people, fugitives in hiding, or illegal
migrants in low-visibility conditions.
Disaster Assessment.--UAS can carry LiDAR sensors to derive
high-resolution 3D mapping of the environment following natural
disasters.
Communications Resiliency.--UAS can carry equipment to
create temporary mobile networks when infrastructure is
damaged.
Ports of Entry Security.--Swarms of UAS using AI can patrol
and react to threats at land, air, and maritime ports.
Nighttime Operations.--UAS can deploy high-output lighting
to illuminate nighttime rescue operations from overhead.
innovation is outpacing legislation
One of the challenges the industry faces is balancing the
availability of new UAS, components, and features that address genuine
needs with the ability to obtain independent third-party compliance
assessments. As the committee is aware, Federal Government agencies are
restricted from procuring or operating UAS or UAS components
manufactured by covered foreign entities. The dilemma however is that
there are very few certifying bodies that can assess UAS and ensure
they meet the strict security and compliance standards, including those
outlined in the National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) and American
Security Drone Act (ASDA). Further, the organizations that do exist
operate with resources too limited to maintain pace with UAS
innovation.
In August 2024, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) held a Blue UAS
Refresh Challenge with the purpose of verifying the submitted systems
compliance with the supply chain restrictions and cybersecurity best
practices. There were 369 submissions to participate in this once-a-
year Refresh Challenge but only enough resources to accept 23 platforms
and 14 other components (DIU Updates Blue UAS List, Framework With 23
Drones & 14 UAS, February 18, 2025). The Association for Uncrewed
Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) launched the Green UAS program in
2023 to address non-Department of Defense (DoD) needs. However, in 2
years there have only been 7 platforms cleared for Green UAS
certification (IAW the AUVSI website, 24 March 2025). These rates do
not match the pace that American drone manufacturers are producing new
systems or developing advanced technologies that could support
emergency management or border security use cases. The U.S. Customs and
Border Protection, law enforcement agencies, and State and Federal
emergency management agencies are all examples that would benefit from
reliable solutions in these areas.
The impact is that Federal and State agencies who had previously
invested in fleets of UAS manufactured in restricted nations now have
very few and increasingly expensive options for bringing their UAS
operations into compliance. COLSA and other companies like ours are
well-structured to do business with these Government agencies. A
company of our size with a successful track record in Federal contracts
makes the support to these agencies low risk. However, there is a
challenging process to be evaluated and certified for sales to either
defense or civil agencies.
evolution of industry technology
In the coming years, major areas of technological enhancement will
certainly focus on the concept of empowering autonomous mission
execution. For UAS to be able to reach their potential to seek injured
persons after a natural disaster, for example, technologies that
support Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations must mature.
BVLOS requires long-range communication links to maintain control of
the UAS over extended distances, potentially using cellular networks,
satellite links, or high-frequency radio signals. Reliable data links
are necessary for real-time data transmission, including video feeds,
sensor data, and control commands to the ground station.
BVLOS relies on autonomous navigation capabilities, allowing drones
to follow pre-programmed routes or respond to real-time commands
without constant human oversight. To accomplish this, resilient Global
Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or alternative navigation methods,
resistant to jamming, are crucial for accurate positioning and
tracking.
Finally, Artificial Intelligence and on-board processing must
progress so that UAS can detect and avoid obstacles, self-determine
route planning, and make mission-driven decisions during BVLOS
operations.
Battery technology has come a long way, but this area must also
evolve. Current battery technology struggles to provide the necessary
power for extended flight times without being excessively heavy.
Research into new battery chemistries and materials is crucial to
increasing the amount of energy that can be stored in a given volume
and weight. Every ounce of weight affects flight time. More
sophisticated sensors are likely to increase the overall power draw,
too. China still manufactures 70-80 percent of the world's lithium-ion
batteries. Developing faster recharging systems and batteries that
maintain optimal performance across a wider temperature range are also
important areas of improvement in battery technology.
conclusion
We thank Congress for securing the UAS technology supply chain
through the ASDA and other NDAA provisions. We believe it is an
essential step to shore up vulnerabilities from foreign exploitation.
We also acknowledge the work of DIU and AUVSI to create certification
pathways by vetting UAS platforms and technologies. These actions
enable agency confidence when procuring systems and enhance the
domestic UAS and component manufacturing base.
To maintain capacity and allow for greater competition in the
market, we must open the aperture in approving compliant UAS
technologies and platforms for both defense and civil agency use. This
could be achieved through streamlined evaluations, additional
certifying bodies, and automation.
Finally, we hope you will support research and development in the
technology areas that support BVLOS operations, improve domestic
production capacity, and improve battery technology.
I greatly appreciate the opportunity to address this committee and
would be happy to take questions.
Mr. Guest. Thank you, Dr. Ledbetter.
I now recognize Mr. Hendrix for 5 minutes to summarize his
opening statement.
STATEMENT OF JERRY H. HENDRIX, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
ROTORCRAFT SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND SIMULATION
CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IN HUNTSVILLE
Mr. Hendrix. Good afternoon, Chairman Guest and Strong and
Ranking Members Correa and Kennedy and the subcommittees. On
behalf of myself, Jerry Hendrix, and our 130 Center employees,
all of who are U.S. citizens and are cleared, the University of
Alabama brings you greetings from Alabama.
Thank you for inviting us up today to testify. Thank you
for you and your staff's service to the American people. We
really appreciate that.
UAH ranks sixth in federally funding in aeronautical and
aerospace research. Our center specializes in autonomous
research focusing on unmanned aircraft systems and counter-
unmanned aircraft systems.
Our disaster response research has been recognized
nationally by the Commercial Drone Alliance in testimony before
Congress in 2023. UAH's research with exercises across natural
and human-made disasters was identified as one of the top 8 UAS
programs to bring benefit to the American people.
Over the past 20 years, I've been involved in over 4,000
development operations, training, and policy development
programs, and separate incidents in testing, exercise, and
disaster response. Some of our Center's research capabilities
includes UAS use in disaster exercises, more operations and
real disasters, world-wide unmanned aircraft systems threat
analysis, development of unmanned aircraft systems as threat
replicas and also role play, and development of unmanned
aircraft systems in use by the DOD. Our center also supports
FAA UAS research and trains DOJ agents in UAS use.
Drone technology is advancing and evolving and offers great
benefit to the DHS enterprise. We need 3 things: DHS-focused
innovations, clear and controllable air space, and special
provisions for training exercise and operations.
UAH research has resulted in many operations. Here's just a
few.
Of concern, operational disciplines across the UAS domain,
especially when it comes to operational procedures compliance
and controlling the operational environment for unwanted UAS
operators. Some responders noted to us that the air responses
are really the ``Wild West.''
Consistent operation procedures with checklists,
checklists, and even more checklists must be used for any safe
operation and response. The training and credentialing of our
operators to a standard set of minimal operation proficiency
standards is a must. Research, training, and exercises in
operations are overburdened by regulations and processes
imposed by multiple agents. We must be able to research and
train as we respond and conduct missions.
Responders and agents must be able to protect our own
assets and our transportation infrastructure from unwanted
sometimes nefarious UAS incursions. Therefore, counter UAS
systems must be tested and validated against certified threats
by independent agents, and the surrounding environment is
supposed to be characterized for possible impacts.
Today most UAS systems are becoming just too expensive.
Introducing new technologies and innovations are needed.
Regulatory restrictions, process, and documentation cannot
force unnecessary technological constraints that drive cost.
New technology for controlling the air space via the
automated Air Boss, use of autonomy, swarming artificial
intelligence/machine learning, beyond visual line-of-sight
operations, and technologies offer the ability to respond more
rapidly and effectively.
Research is needed to incorporate these 2 technologies and
must be adjusted to allow safe introduction. Such technology
insertion research could be part of a DHS innovation program to
identify novel UAS technology that is simple, low cost, highly
productive to mission needs, and rapidly reconfigurable to
adjust to the mission as it adjusts. The results would be a DHS
meeting need instead of UAS that is being made and manufactured
in America.
We should allow a realistic use of national air space in
the location of UAS and test UAS ranges like, for example, at
the Huntsville International Airport with appropriate waivers.
Additionally, cooperative threat analysis across multiple
agents is needed. For the border's UAS open-source threat
analysis that we just ran shows the following: Cartels are
using UAS for surveillance; fiber optic control UAS are at the
border; drones dropping bombs and incendiary devices are also
there. This capability came from the Ukraine-Russian war and is
now available to be purchased on-line making it easily
available. We have seen multiple drone carriers as well from
manned aircraft and morphing structures.
In conclusion, support is needed for more effective and
efficient responses. I ask for the committee's assistance in
allowing DHS enterprise more leeway and freedom to research,
test, and conduct exercises. Changing regulations for this
support and allocating more resources for more research in
supporting technology will allow a more effective, efficient,
and real-world life response. We need to train and exercise as
we operate.
We need the innovation program that would generate UAS
technology specified by DHS that is DHS-focused, simply used,
low cost, reconfigurable, and highly developed to mission
needs.
Thank you for your attention and consideration. I look
forward to continuing discussion, and I want to assure that UAH
will continue to support and research to protect our citizenry,
assist our soldiers and agents, get disaster victims on the
road to recovery faster, and save lives.
Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Hendrix follows:]
Prepared Statement of Jerry H. Hendrix
April 1, 2025
introduction
Good morning Chairmen Guest and Strong and the Ranking Members and
Members of the Border Security and Enforcement and Emergency Management
and Technology Subcommittees. On behalf of myself, our 130 center
employees who are all cleared and U.S. Citizens, and the University of
Alabama in Huntsville, I bring you greeting from Alabama. Thank you for
inviting me to testify today April 1, 2025 on ``Exploring the Use of
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Across the DHS Enterprise''.
My name is Jerry Hendrix and I serve as the executive director of
one of our 17 University research centers focused on performing
autonomous aerospace research at the University of Alabama in
Huntsville (UAH). Our center is part of a tier 1 research university
that ranks 6th in Federal investment in aeronautical and aerospace
engineering research. The center specializes in autonomous research
focusing on uncrewed systems and counter-uncrewed systems. Our unmanned
aircraft system (UAS) disaster research has been recognized nationally
by the Commercial Drone Alliance in testimony to the House Space,
Science, and Technology Committee in 2023. UAH's research was specified
as the one of the top 8 UAS programs to ``bring benefit to the American
People.'' That research was focused on ``UAS Use in Natural and Human
Disasters''.
Over the past 20 years, I have been involved in UAS development,
operations, training, and policy development. I have been involved in
over 4,000 separate UAS operations in testing, exercises, and disaster
responses working across several academic institutions and Government
agencies. While at Texas A&M University, I served as the Air Wing 1
Commander for the State of Texas and the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) Texas Task Force 1 for disaster response while also
serving as the executive director of the Texas Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA)-designated UAS Test Site. While at UAH, I recently
completed my term as president of Huntsville's Pathfinder Chapter of
the Association of Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and
led our UAS research at UAH. That research includes UAS use in
disasters research and exercises, deployment of UAS to real border
operations and real disasters, uncrewed threat analyses, development of
uncrewed systems as threat replicas, and development of uncrewed
systems used by the DOD. Our center has supported the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) in evaluating and using UAS as a viable
technology and evaluations of counter-insurgency systems. The
university holds a Cooperative Research Agreement with NOAA for UAS use
in disasters. A majority of our center's staff are currently FEMA-
trained for disaster response.
an overview of research/operations results
Applied research focused on the DHS domains has resulted in many
observations documented within this testimonial statement. The broad
base of our experience researching and operating UAS is with FEMA, DHS
Science and Technology, CBP, and in some cases supporting critical
infrastructure protection. In UAS, our center trains DOJ agents in UAS
operations, develops UAS for DOD including threat replicas, performs
multiagency threat analyses and supports the FAA and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research applications.
This testimony will focus on these areas based on lessons learned
supporting the DHS enterprise.
There are several primary areas of concern with UAS Operations in
the DHS Enterprise:
1. Operational discipline across the UAS domain especially when it
comes to operational procedures compliance and controlling the
operational environment;
2. Overburden of regulations and processes imposed by multiple
agencies in training and operations;
3. Protection of our own assets and infrastructure from unwanted
and sometime nefarious UAS incursions;
4. The cost of systems at large based on the industrial complex
costing models;
5. The challenges of introducing new technology and capabilities
that are mission-focused, low cost, and expendable or
maintainable.
lessons learned from the use of uas across the dhs enterprise
For the next couple of minutes, I would like to discuss the lesson
learned from over 4,000 UAS missions and operations of which a large
number relate to the DHS mission set.
technology and common operational challenges
Our research found that the current status is referred to by
existing UAS operators as the ``Wild West''. This is because of
the presence of untrained UAS operators and non-cooperative UAS
operators who appear during operations supporting disasters or
missions.
Operational discipline is extremely important. Consistent
operational procedures including checklists, checklists, and
even more checklists must be used for any operation and
response. This will ensure a safe and effective operation. The
training and credentialing of operators to a standard set of
Minimal Operational Proficiency Standards (MOPS) would be
extremely valuable. The following 7 areas of proficiency are
highly recommended:
1. Communications--Understanding terminology and its appropriate
use for command operations;
2. Pilot Dexterity and Skills--Proficiency in the skill, precision,
and finesse of flying;
3. Visual Acuity--Competence in using UAS for area scan searches
using different techniques;
4. Air space Operations--Understanding regulatory frameworks
(Federal, State, and local) and limitations;
5. Understanding Command Operations--How to operate with an Air
Boss and FEMA's established Incident Command Structure
(ICS);
6. Performance of Safety and Risk Analysis--Institutionalized
safety practices and an identification process for risks
and mitigation strategies;
7. Knowledge of UAS, Sensors, and Data Products--Understanding
which UAS and sensor sets best fit the mission need and
which data products are needed immediately and to be stored
for possible future actions.
UAS development and fielding costs should continue to go
down over time as technology evolves unless regulatory
restrictions force unnecessary constraints. Autonomy, swarming
(multi-aircraft operations), Artificial Intelligence/Machine
Learning (AI /ML), Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)
operations, special purpose solutions and other technology uses
offer the ability to respond more rapidly and effectively.
Research is needed to incorporate these technologies while
regulations must be adjusted to safely allow their
introduction. Such technology insertion research could be a
part of a National Security and Technology Innovation Program
to identify novel UAS technology that is simple, low cost,
highly productive to mission needs and rapidly reconfigurable
to adjust as the mission adjusts and Made and Manufactured in
America! The result would be highly-capable, low-cost UAS,
mission-focused solutions.
Regulations are most necessary for UAS operations but hinder
UAS for both disaster response exercises and DHS training and
operational exercises. We need to train and plan as we operate!
Federal agencies might violate a law if they do any detection
or mitigation against a drone without specific authorization.
Those authorizations should be streamlined. I have provided
those regulations in my references.
Overall, the use of mechanisms to control the air space
(such as an Automated Air Boss when DHS is operating) would
prohibit unwanted UAS operations for hobbyists or non-
cooperative entities.
Fleet control and an understanding all communications
systems and operational frequencies must be known by the
incident command structure and Air Boss.
One of my concerns is the vulnerability of our Nation's
airports, highways, maritime transportation systems, railways
and mass transit, and pipeline systems to an unwanted UAS drone
attack. If we recall the total paralysis that the Nation
experienced after 9/11, it's not hard to imagine the impact of
a successful UAS attack on any major airport or transportation
system in the country. Consider the possibility of an attack on
the Mississippi River systems. Our transportation network could
be brought to its knees by a single strike. Therefore, the
effectiveness of counter uncrewed and UAS systems is of the
extreme importance. Counter UAS systems need to be tested and
validated against certified threats by independent agents. The
testing methods and standards should be established by the
independent agents and paid for by equipment vendors.
first responder challenges
It is critical to offer appropriate assistance in the event
as agreed to and tasked by Incident Command. Those tasking may
include collecting data for the tax assessor or assisting FEMA
evaluators to determine storm surge or even assisting in active
search-and-rescue events. The right UAS strike team, technology
(UAS and Sensors) are critical to success.
Exercises and training should include the integration of UAS
Strike Teams within the response organizations reporting to
Incident Command as documented in the FEMA ICS construct.
First responders can gain efficiency if they can exercise
realistically by employing BVLOS operations, Special Government
Interests (SGIs) and Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) just
as they would in a real disaster or emergency response. This is
not currently allowed.
Rapid field data assessment is needed in a concise and
consistent manner.
Authority to approve special emergency Certificates of
Authorization or Waiver (ECOAs) or UAS Disaster Operations
should be allocated to Incident structures using Pre-approved
TFR training and processes as opposed to using the FAA's System
Operations Support Center (SOSC) which may take days.
Air space approvals must be done in a timely manner and
approved operations with limited interference must be done more
efficiently. Refer to findings based on research, interviews,
and exercises in the Alliance for System Safety of UAS through
Research Excellence (ASSURE) A52 FAA Final Report, Reference 2.
Technology like electromagnetic systems must control the
response areas keeping unwanted incursions from happening.
Operations must gain approved spectrum usage and air space
operational limits. Incidents of UAS operations around manned
aviation has been seen in fire and flooding responses.
Although Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are helpful,
MOPS would greatly improve response. However, funding is
lacking to institutionalize MOPS across all first responders.
Operations in extreme temperatures may impact the
reliability of UAS and Sensor operations and certainly impacts
operator's ability to respond effectively. Research is needed
in this area of disaster-focused UAS.
Utilization of tools like mobile internet, social media,
signal chat, and Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) are
beneficial in performing air space deconfliction and resource
management in disparate response areas like in the North
Carolina Mountains.
The ability to conduct BVLOS operations is a must for first
responders. This can be accomplished through the use of a
global network, such as an Automated Air Boss, which overlays
the disaster area with the locations, altitudes, speed and
direction of aircraft and drones.
Our research led us to build a Beyond Part 107 for First
Responders booklet to help first responders interpret the Part
107 law.
border challenges
Border operations would be better executed if allowed to
exercise realistically using national air space training
locations like the UAS and CUAS Test Range at Huntsville
International Airport (HSV) with appropriate approvals/waivers
from the FAA, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and
Department of Justice (DOJ).
Technological advances like automated Air Boss using AI/ML
overlaid onto existing solutions like ATAK would expedite
emergency responses and provide air space control to ``non-
cooperatives''.
UAH operates an open-source threat analysis for several
Federal organizations. We produced an open-source threat report
on the Southern and Northern Borders and augmented it with UAS
use on the border. Some of the results are as follows:
Fiber Optic-controlled UAS sometimes referred to as
``tethered drones or Dark Drones'' use fiber optic
communications. These UAS are not susceptible to jamming
with radio signals and can only be destroyed by blinding
the fiber or cutting the tether. Some are small in size but
have control fibers thousands of kilometers long. The
process originated in the Ukraine-Russia war and now is
available on-line. Terrorist organizations have begun or
will begin to use this technology shortly.
Another technique now being employed by cartels also came
from the Ukraine-Russia war and that is the ability for
small, agile UAS known as weaponized drones to drop bombs
and other incendiary devices.
In addition, cartels and drug lords are using their own
drones for surveillance of border agent movements and cargo
deliveries
conclusion--support is needed for more effective and efficient responses
In conclusion, I ask for these committees' assistance in allowing
our DHS enterprise including our agents, first responders, and
supporting partners more leeway and freedom to research, test, and
conduct of exercises. Changing regulations for this support and
allocating resources for more research into supporting technology will
allow more effective and efficient responses.
Agents and responders could benefit from a MOPS-like program to
establish and standardize consistent, safe, and effective UAS
operations that is focused on mission objectives.
I also want to point out that establishing a National Security and
Technology Innovation program that may mimic what has transpired in the
DOD would generate technology specified by DHS. This program would be
laser-focused on applications that are simple, low cost, highly
productive to mission needs and rapidly reconfigurable and Made and
Manufactured in America!
And last, I would like to offer the concept of testing of any
counter systems by using certified developed threats that replicate the
threats we see today across peer nations and adversaries.
Thank you for your attention and consideration. I look forward to
continued discussions and want to assure you that UAH will continue to
support research to protect our citizenry, assist our soldiers and
agents, get disaster victims on the road to recovery, and save lives.
Please note my references and resources as documented.
References & Resources
(1) FAA Memorandum dated February 29, 2024: ``Updated FAA
Priorities--New Test Plan for A11L.UAS.090, Evaluation of
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Safety and Security
Technologies in the National Airspace System (NAS) Program
(A60)'', Matt Novak and Tricia Fantinato.
(2) UAH FAA A52 Final Report, ``ASSURE A52: Phase II--Preparation
for Disaster Preparedness and Response using UAS in the NAS
with Coordination Across First Responders'', October 2024.
chrome-extension://efaidnbm- nnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://
assureuas.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/- 06/A52-Final-Report-
V13_FINAL.pdf.
(3) UAH FAA A62 Final Report, ``ASSURE A11L.UAS. 68_A62: Disaster
Preparedness and Emergency Response Phase III'', March 2025
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://
www.assureuas.org/wp-content/- uploads/2022/03/
ASSURE_A11L.UAS_.68_A62_Final_Report_v3.pdf.
(4) NewsNation Report March 21, 2025 ``US Unprepared for Dark
Drone''.
(5) ``How the U.S. is confronting the threat posed by drones
swarming sensitive national security sites'', CBS News, ``60
Minutes,'' originally broadcast 3/16/25. https://
www.cbsnews.com/news/drone-swarms-national-security-60-minutes-
transcript/.
(6) Detection: The Pen/Trap Statute, 18 U.S.C. 3121-3127,
criminalizes the ``use'' or ``installation'' of a ``device'' or
``process'' that ``records,'' ``decodes,'' or ``captures'' non-
content information like dialing, routing, addressing, or
signaling (``DRAS'') information. See Interagency (DOJ, DOT,
FCC, DHS) ``Advisory on the Application of Federal Laws to the
Acquisition and Use of Technology to Detect and Mitigate
Unmanned Aircraft Systems'' dated August 2020.
(7) Detection: The Wiretap Act (also known as Title III), 18 U.S.C.
2510 et seq., prohibits, among other things, ``intentionally
intercept[ing]'' the content of ``any . . . electronic
communication[,]'' unless it is conducted pursuant to a court
order or a statutory exception applies. See Interagency (DOJ,
DOT, FCC, DHS) ``Advisory on the Application of Federal Laws to
the Acquisition and Use of Technology to Detect and Mitigate
Unmanned Aircraft Systems'' dated August 2020.
(8) Mitigation: 18 U.S.C. 31(a)(1), The use of non-kinetic or
kinetic solutions may implicate Federal criminal prohibitions
against, among other things, intercepting and interfering with
communications, damaging a ``protected computer,'' and damaging
an ``aircraft.'' The term ``aircraft'' refers to ``a civil,
military, or public contrivance invented, used, or designed to
navigate, fly, or travel in the air.'' See Interagency (DOJ,
DOT, FCC, DHS) ``Advisory on the Application of Federal Laws to
the Acquisition and Use of Technology to Detect and Mitigate
Unmanned Aircraft Systems'' dated August 2020.
Mr. Guest. Thank you, Mr. Hendrix.
I now recognize Chief Fetterman for 5 minutes to summarize
his opening statement.
STATEMENT OF KEVIN FETTERMAN, FIRE DIVISION CHIEF, DI-
VISION 4, ORANGE COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY, ON BEHALF
OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS
Chief Fetterman. Good afternoon, Chairman Guest, Ranking
Member Correa, Chairman Strong, and Ranking Member Kennedy. I'm
Division 4 Chief Kevin Fetterman of the Orange County Fire
Authority. Today I'm representing the International Association
of Fire Chiefs. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss UAS and
the role they play in the Department of Homeland Security's
enterprise.
Fire and EMS departments across the Nation are beginning to
deploy UAS during emergency operations. UAS provides a number
of capabilities to improve emergency response operations and
reduce life and property loss. From the perspective of an
incident commander, it is key to gain situational awareness at
the beginning and maintain it throughout an incident.
UAS provides real-time data about the incident scene
through aerial high-resolution imagery plus videos. Thermal
imaging by UAS can determine the spread of a fire or the
potential hot spots outside the line of a wildland fire. The
LIDAR capabilities of a UAS can be used to assess landslides
and mud and debris flows. UAS can also be used to identify
subjects during search-and-rescue missions and for operational
missions, like delivering supplies or conducting firing
operations during wildland fires.
The September 2024 airport fire demonstrated the utility of
public safety UAS. The OCFA deployed its UAS early to gain
necessary situational awareness. During the incident, we used
local and Federal UAS with infrared cameras to track the fire
and determine the extent of the remaining hot spots. While the
fire covered 23,519 acres and burned more than 160 structures,
it still provided a great example of how interagency
collaboration can manage an incident successfully in a high-
complexity environment.
During wildland fires and other major incidents, it is
important to integrate operations of multiple emergency
response aircraft. In California, the fire traffic areas are
established to provide coordination between helicopters, fixed-
wing air tankers, command-and-control aircraft, UAS, and other
aircraft. The FAA also institutes temporary flight
restrictions, also known as TFRs, to ensure the safety of first
responders as they engage in emergency operations.
The January 2025 L.A. fires demonstrated the advantages and
risks of UAS use. For example, public safety UAS provided real-
time information and data on the fires in Pacific Palisades and
other localities. However, public recreational UAS incursions
create a great risk to our operations. Between January 7 and
January 25, there were more than 700 incursions by more than
400 different UAS. One UAS flight was recorded at a level of
20,000 feet, and in another, a public UAS operator lost track
of his aircraft and it hit a Canadian Super Scooper. It put a
hole about this size in the wing. This accident endangered the
lives of the crew, endangered the lives of first responders on
the ground, and grounded the aircraft.
We ask Congress and the Federal Government to take action
to protect emergency operations from these UAS incursions.
Specifically, we recommend passing legislation that would
thwart pilots of UAS incursions into fire traffic areas and
TFRs. Legal protections should be in place to maximize the
ability of first responders to save lives.
Formulating and implementing clear UAS mitigation
procedures. Identifying Federal law enforcement personnel and
processes for eliminating threats to public safety operations.
Enhancing remote ID requirements and reducing remote ID
bypasses.
Establishing formal coordination plans with all relevant
local, State, and Federal stakeholders.
Implementing effective public awareness campaigns and
developing continuing education for the public about the safe
operations of UAS.
Last, encouraging UAS manufacturers to develop solutions
that universally support the emergency operations of American
first responders.
In closing, thank you for the opportunity to testify at
today's hearing. Fire and emergency--EMS departments are
embracing the various benefits that UAS can provide for their
emergency response operations. By coordinating the use of
Federal, State, and local UAS, the incident commanders can get
a better understanding of emergency incidents and even identify
and provide resources to victims. However, we must work to make
the air space safer for our emergency responders. The Federal
Government needs to be more aggressive in developing and
enforcing restrictions on public UAS incursions into TFRs. As
we tell the public in California, if you fly, we can't.
I look forward to answering any questions that you may
have. Thank you, and I appreciate the opportunity.
[The prepared statement of Chief Fetterman follows:]
Prepared Statement of Kevin Fetterman
April 1, 2025
Good afternoon, Chairman Guest; Ranking Member Correa; Chairman
Strong; and Ranking Member Kennedy. My name is Kevin Fetterman. I am
the Division 4 chief with the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) in
Orange County, California. I oversee the delivery of Fire and Emergency
Services in the communities of Tustin, Villa Park, and Yorba Linda. I
appreciate the opportunity today to discuss Unmanned Aircraft Systems
(UAS) and the role they play across the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) enterprise.
Today I am testifying on behalf of the International Association of
Fire Chiefs (IAFC). The IAFC represents the leadership of over 1.1
million firefighters and emergency responders. IAFC members are the
world's leading experts in firefighting, emergency medical services,
terrorism response, hazardous materials (hazmat) incidents, wildland
fire suppression, natural disasters, search and rescue, and public-
safety policy. Since 1873, the IAFC has provided a forum for its
members to exchange ideas, develop best practices, participate in
executive training, and discover diverse products and services
available to first responders.
America's fire and emergency service is an all-hazards response
force that is locally situated, staffed, trained, and equipped to
respond to all types of emergencies. There are approximately 1.1
million men and women in the fire and emergency service--consisting of
approximately 300,000 career firefighters and 800,000 volunteer
firefighters--serving in over 30,000 fire departments around the
Nation. They are trained to respond to all hazards ranging from
earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods to acts of terrorism,
hazardous materials incidents, technical rescues, fires, and medical
emergencies. We usually are the first at the scene of a disaster and
the last to leave.
I also would like to extend my gratitude to Orange County Fire
Chief Brian Fennessy, Deputy Chief TJ McGovern, and Assistant Chief
Baryic Hunter for supporting my testimony here today. As you may know,
Orange County is the third-most populous county in California and the
sixth-most populous in the United States. The population is larger than
21 States, and the county is the second-most-densely populated in
California. The OCFA is an all-hazard regional fire service
organization. Over 1,500 career firefighters and staff serve 23 cities
in the county and all unincorporated areas in a 586-square-mile
coverage area. The OCFA protects nearly 2 million residents from its 78
fire stations, covers over 188,817 acres of wildland, and 658,659
dwellings. The OCFA responded to nearly 183,900 incidents in 2024.
situational awareness
From the perspective of an incident commander, it is key to
establish and maintain situational awareness at the beginning--and
through the duration--of an incident. Situational awareness can be
defined as the understanding of an environment, its elements, and how
it changes over time or in response to other factors. As local fire
departments purchase UAS and incorporate them into their operations,
the UAS are becoming a significant asset in improving situational
awareness on the incident scene.
For example, UAS can provide real-time data of the incident scene
by providing high-resolution aerial images and videos to the incident
management team to better coordinate operations. Thermal imaging by UAS
can determine the spread of a fire and potential hot spots in a
wildland fire. The use of LIDAR (light detection and ranging)
capabilities on UAS can be used to assess landslides and mud and debris
flows. UAS also can be used in search-and-rescue incidents to both
identify victims and provide overwatch during operations. By using a
commercial common platform, incident commanders can analyze the data
from UAS and make critical time-sensitive decisions to keep their
personnel safe.
The UAS also can take response roles during incidents. They can be
used to provide medical resources and food to responders or civilians
in the field. They also can be used as Plastic Sphere Dispensers to
assist with firing operations during active fire areas. In many cases,
UAS can be used in dangerous or technically challenging situations
instead of endangering fire service personnel.
fire traffic areas
In order to successfully utilize UAS on incident scenes, they must
be integrated with Fire Traffic Areas (FTA). The FTAs were established
as interagency air space management tools for standard communication
protocols. In California, it is the interagency standard for aerial
firefighting. The FTA can be further defined as air space with a 5-
nautical-mile radius from an incident during suppression operations.
FTAs are a layered approach to aeronautical management. Within
FTAs, coordination takes place with helicopters, fixed-wing tanker
aircraft, command-and-control aircraft, intelligence-gathering
aircraft, as well as UAS used by public safety. When recreational or
non-public safety UAS encroach upon FTAs or areas covered by the
Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Temporary Flight Restrictions
(TFR), they create a significant danger for the fire service aircraft
and personnel.
the september 2024 airport fire
These lessons and the validation of the benefits of public safety
UAS were clearly proven on the Airport Fire in early September 2024. I
was one of the Unified Incident Commanders for the 23,519-acre Airport
Fire in Orange County. It burned aggressively between both Orange and
Riverside counties, with, unfortunately, more than 160 structures being
lost. It also coincided with the Lines Fire in San Bernardino County
and the Bridge Fire in Los Angeles County.
At the beginning of this incident, we were able to deploy OFCA's
fleet of UAS to establish situational awareness as a first step to the
response. During the incident, we were able to use Federal, county, and
local UAS with infrared sensors to determine the extent of the
remaining hotspots. This incident provided a great example of how
Federal, State, and local interagency collaboration can successfully
manage a dangerous incident. The OCFA is continuing to use its UAS
fleet in collaboration with local academia to monitor for mud and
debris flows in these same fire areas.
2025 southern california wildfires and the importance of uas
The beginning of 2025 brought some of the most challenging
environmental conditions we have ever seen in Southern California. On
January 7, the devastating wildfires that we saw in cities like Malibu,
Altadena, Pasadena, and other localities impacted the lives of hundreds
of thousands of people. The 2025 Southern California wildfires will
have a lasting impact for us all.
For many Californians, the 2025 Southern California wildfires were
the first time they recognized that UAS could play a role in wildland
fire response. Due to extensive media coverage of this event, citizens
watched as UAS assisted first responders in their efforts to manage the
incident. The UAS were able to provide up-to-date data and information
in real time, including through thermal imaging. The combination of UAS
and common UAS operation platforms provided the capability for first
responders to save more lives.
Proper procedures, such as FTAs and FAA TFRs, went into effect as
the incident got under way. These safety procedures were put into place
to mitigate the risk of recreational UAS interfering with the work of
first responders. Unfortunately, many Southern Californians were either
not aware of the FTA/TFRs or they simply chose to ignore them.
recreational uas incursions
In the State of California, we say ``if you fly, we can't.'' Two of
the pillars that ensure successful UAS operations are communications
and coordination. Often the response to a wildland fire can be chaotic.
When the non-public safety UAS encroach upon the air space, it can
create dangerous situations and accidents.
The beginning of 2025 brought some of the worst air space
deconfliction issues we have seen. There were more than 700 UAS
intrusions into the Palisades Fire TFR/FTA by more than 400 different
UAS between January 7 and 25. The highest UAS flight was even noted as
high as 20,000 feet.
In one instance, a California resident used his personal UAS to
survey the fire damage during an active TFR. He launched the UAS from a
parking garage in Santa Monica. After flying the UAS more than a mile
away from his location, he lost track of the UAS' position. It crashed
into a Canadair CL-145 fixed-wing, Canadian Super Scooper, which was
engaged in fire suppression operations. It was 1 of the 2 Canadian
Super Scoopers deployed to the fires.
solutions to discourage recreational uas incursions during emergency
events
This challenge of UAS incursions creates an extreme risk factor in
situations such as fires, disasters, or at the border. There are many
steps that can be taken to reduce/eliminate UAS incursions from
incidents such as wildfires. These following suggestions are ways in
which UAS operations can be strengthened for first responders:
Develop and enact legislation that would thwart pilots of
UAS incursions into FTAs/TFRs. Legal protections should be in
place to maximize the ability of first responders to save lives
Formulate and implement clear UAS mitigation procedures.
Identifying Federal law enforcement personnel and processes for
eliminating threats to public safety UAS operations.
Enhance Remote ID Requirements and reducing Remote ID
bypasses.
Establish formal coordination plans with all relevant local,
State, and Federal stakeholders.
Implement effective public awareness campaigns and develop
continuing education for the public about the safe operation of
UAS.
Encourage UAS manufacturers to develop solutions that
universally support the emergency operations of American first
responders.
conclusion
In closing, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the
opportunity to testify about the use of UAS across the DHS enterprise.
A greater number of fire and EMS departments are deploying UAS to
assist with their emergency operations. They are finding that UAS can
improve situational awareness, deliver resources, and provide
specialized capabilities for search-and-rescue and other specialized
missions. However, the public must use UAS in a responsible manner and
not be allowed to interfere with emergency operations or endanger the
lives of the public or first responders. The IAFC looks forward to
working with the committee to incentivize the available use of UAS for
local public safety agencies, while also ensuring their safe operation
by the public.
Mr. Guest. Thank you, Chief Fetterman.
Members will be recognized by order of seniority for their
5 minutes of questioning. An additional round of questioning
may be called after all Members have been recognized. I now
recognize myself for 5 minutes of questioning.
Director Farrell, thank you for being here today. We have
seen that recent concerns over privacy, public safety, and
national security have led to restrictions on drones from
certain foreign manufacturers. Given these concerns and these
restrictions, how is the industry affected by requirements
imposed by the National Defense Authorization Act?
Mr. Farrell. Thank you, Chairman Guest. So I believe that
the United States industry is playing catch-up. I think that
the commercial market and first responders have had access to
cheaper Chinese technology, in particular, for quite a while. I
think that we had heard testimony around the program that DIU
has that has certainly led to advancements and investment in
U.S. manufacturing. I think that the CHIPS Act and other
efforts in order to bring the technology back here to invest in
the critical components, the auto pilots, the camera systems
have made a lot of headway.
If you had asked me this question several years ago, I
think I would have said we're pretty far away, but recent
investments, recent technology is really showing vast
improvements.
The work that we're doing through program jus---or Project
JUSTICE--is meant to support DHS components in their
procurement processes. You heard about the bottleneck at DIU.
One way that we're trying to support industry here is to give
them an alternative pathway for DHS procurement processes where
we do our own vetting, we do our own cyber vulnerability
assessments as well as critical component analysis, and that
opens the door for DHS components as they choose to request and
look at different technologies to be able to give other
manufacturers an opportunity to sell and to ensure that the
components have a safe product at the end of the day.
So all that to say is the NDAA requirements have truly
caused some bottlenecks, but we are working rapidly to try to
alleviate those and enhance the American product and as well as
ensure the safe operations.
Mr. Guest. Director Farrell, you mentioned project JUSTICE,
a partnership between DHS S&T and the Raspet Flight Center
there located at Mississippi State University. Could, No. 1,
you just give us kind-of a brief overview of Project JUSTICE,
and then you mentioned just a moment ago, but maybe go into a
little bit more detail the work being done to support the
Department of Homeland Security?
Mr. Farrell. Absolutely. So Project JUSTICE was started as
the common UAS test site back in 2016. We exist now in our
current iteration as Justice NextGen as the joint unmanned
systems testing in a collaborative environment program under
the Air, Land, and Ports of Entry portfolio. As a part of this
work, we support all of the components for their UAS testing,
as well as research and development needs as it relates to UAS,
as well as other associated technologies.
So as DHS gets a gap within the UAS world, they'll reach
out to us to be able to analyze that. This can take many
different forms. It can be looking at the landscape of
commercial available products. It can be examining what exists
within our research portfolio to understand what can fit that
space. It can also be custom UAS development. We've developed
UAS that the market wasn't providing for HSI, an entry-level
drone that had some really great capabilities. It can also be
items where--like air domain awareness. We just delivered a
tool for DHS that provides air domain awareness leveraging
beyond visual line-of-sight capabilities that remote ID are
meant to provide. Then also a broadcast or an ATAK system to
give situational awareness, and we demoed that actually at the
university's campus around a football game scenario.
We've also leveraged the program to support FEMA Region 4,
so we actually flew the Teros in support for Helene as well as
Debby, and that was a really great showcase of a 44-foot
wingspan aircraft, 24 hours of endurance that can distribute
live video and tiled imagery.
Those are just some of the things we're doing. But truly, I
think that the portfolio, given the partnerships, given the
collaborations with our ASSURE Center of Excellence as well as
the other industry partners, really opens the gamut for what we
can provide to DHS.
Mr. Guest. Thank you, Director Farrell. My time has now
expired.
I would like to recognize Ranking Member Correa for 5
minutes for any questions he may have.
Mr. Correa. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Fetterman, you oversee the command and emergency
planning division of the largest fire agency in Orange County.
Nearly 2 million residents across 78 fire stations. You have a
lot of experience with search-and-rescue and planning missions.
How do emerging technologies like drone technology help
keep Orange County residents safe?
Chief Fetterman. Ranking Member Correa, thank you for the
question. I appreciate the opportunity to answer it.
Orange County Fire is fortunate, under the leadership of
Fire Chief Brian Fennessy, to lean fairly in to emerging
technology. We see it as an important aspect, that being
meeting the threats that we face. We utilize every opportunity
to engage in emerging technology, such as AI cameras for fire
detection. As you pointed out, we utilize a significant fleet
of drones.
Utilizing on the fire line to determine and look for hot
spots, especially outside of the line, those are areas of the
fire that you might not be able to see from the ground, but
using the aerial observation and gaining that situational
awareness, you can find spots that could turn into a
significant fire later, especially if there's spots in between
the fire line and----
Mr. Correa. So identifying those spots before they flare up
saves countless lives, millions, if not billions, of dollars in
damage. You mentioned 150 structures recently burned in Orange
County. Boy, when those fires go, they really go quickly.
Technology, emerging technology, private sector, public sector.
Recently, Elon Musk attempted to fire 400 employees of DHS.
Some of those employees were at the Department of Science and
Technology Directorate, which is really in charge of R&D,
figuring out better ways keeping Americans safe. They were
developing, testing, and evaluating tools that help
firefighters navigate in dark, smoke-filled buildings; how to
rescue trapped civilians; communicate with firefighters, first
responders.
Can you speak to the importance of making sure that kind of
research and development is developed as quickly as possible?
Chief Fetterman. Yes. So, certainly, I would say that the
DHS science and technology is a critical aspect. We utilize
that technology. We're leaning into firefighter tracking and
identifying where our personnel are, and that's not an easy
task. We have to leverage all available technology to do that.
So emerging technology and even the bigger support of FEMA
programs, like the National Fire Academy and the U.S. Fire
Administration, those are all critical to the fire service.
Those are the backbones of our leadership programs and our
ability to educate and teach our new and upcoming fire service
leaders.
Mr. Correa. Mr. Fetterman, we're talking about the
affirmative use of drones. What about the defensive side in
emerging technologies?
You just talked about what I would consider a knucklehead,
a drone flying in an active emergency situation. I'd say these
people have no common sense. I don't care how criminal you make
it. They are going to do dumb things.
So I would imagine the emerging technologies that we can
come up with to clear the field, so to speak, so you can do
work is also an important part of the emerging technology.
Chief Fetterman. Yes, sir. So seeing the report of the
number of drone incursions on the fires in Los Angeles was,
frankly, shocking. To see that number of drone incursions into
a fire traffic area, and what that is, is you're talking about
multiple aircrafts, 30 helicopters, 6 to 8 fixed-wing air
tankers, and so--all operating to extinguish and mitigate the
fire. So when you have drone incursions in there, we need to
do--we and ideally this committee and Congress all together
needs to take swift action to mitigate those incursions into
our fire traffic areas, and specifically the TFRs. It's an
incredibly dangerous situation.
Mr. Correa. Chief, in my last 35 seconds, we've established
that drone technology, emerging technology, very important,
very useful, also very dangerous. How can we in Congress help
you do your job better?
Chief Fetterman. Well, certainly the emerging technology is
critically important to us. Leaning into that, supporting
legislation that protects the first responders. As I mentioned,
the National Fire Academy is our leadership backbone. That's
where all of our leaders that bring that vision to engage into
emerging technology come from. They're coming out of programs
like the Executive Fire Officer Program. Certainly the support
of all the grant programs--AFG, SAFER, HSGP, UASI--those are
the types of programs that help the first responders at the
boots on the ground, boots in the dirt level, to continue to
evolve. So I'd encourage this group to continue to support
those programs.
Mr. Correa. Chief Fetterman, thank you for joining us
today, and look forward to continuing working with you. Thank
you, sir.
Mr. Chairman, I'm out of time, but before I do turn over my
time, I'd like unanimous consent to insert into the record an
article from the DHS Science and Tech Directorate dated
November 6 of 2023, titled, ``Picturing the Future of
Firefighters,'' which describes how science and technology
serves a crucial role in R&D and testing technologies alongside
the private sector to help our firefighters and other first
responders to respond safely to emergencies and save lives.
Mr. Guest. Without objection.
[The information follows:]
Feature Article: Picturing the Future of Firefighting
Release Date: November 6, 2023
https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/news/2023/11/06/feature-
article-picturing-future-firefighting
Trying to find your way through an unfamiliar building filled with
dark, dense smoke while lives are on the line is not an ideal work
environment, but for countless firefighters, it's the reality. These
types of low-visibility situations are unavoidable--and can be
extremely hazardous. Responders can become disoriented during emergency
operations when every second counts. Rescuing trapped or incapacitated
civilians, keeping tabs on fellow responders, communicating with the
command center, and locating exit routes--all while navigating through
flames and debris--is an enormously daunting task. The Science and
Technology Directorate (S&T) has been working with an innovative
private industry partner and first responder evaluators to design a
technology that will guide firefighters through low-visibility
environments and get them safely back home to their families.
seeing through the smoke
C-THRU is a real-time, indoor visualization system currently in
development with San Francisco-based startup Qwake Technologies, Inc.
S&T is supporting this research and development effort with funding as
well as expert oversight every step of the way. ``The main objectives
of the project are to provide effective navigation in obscured
environments, enable safe and coordinated situational awareness in
chaotic conditions, and support rapid decisionmaking in high stress
situations,'' said S&T Program Manager Maua Karen Johnson. ``The bottom
line is C-THRU will save lives.''
The C-THRU system will deliver a hands-free, augmented reality
visual overlay, powered by a micro-computer safely housed inside an
easily wearable device that attaches to a standard firefighter helmet.
C-THRU consists of two components: the Navigator (worn on the helmet)
and the Visual Command (a tablet used by incident commanders to see
what their crew members are seeing). The display is meant to minimize
confusion and disorientation, using advanced thermal imaging to
identify surfaces and objects in the vicinity, such as stairs and
people.
According to Qwake CEO Sam Cossman, ``One of the most important
features of C-THRU is to take that raw thermal image . . . and kind of
draw lines around all the objects in the frame. An outline around a
human body or the geometry of a building is rapidly shown through the
heads-up display. So, you can very quickly say, `Am I in a small closet
or a big warehouse? Is there a victim on the ground? Is there a
staircase to an egress?' This capability is referred to as edge
detection and it leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning
to help firefighters rapidly make sense of their environment.
In addition to the edge extraction capability Cossman described,
Qwake is working on developing a backtracking function that provides
turn-by-turn guidance, allowing a responder to follow the path they
took into the building back out to safety. It is all too easy to get
turned around in an unfamiliar, low visibility environment. The ability
to automatically locate a safe exit route addresses the very real
concern of firefighters losing their way during a response because they
are naturally focused on other issues. C-THRU eliminates the need to
form a mental map of one's surroundings, allowing them to focus their
attention to the mission at hand.
The personal navigation is further enhanced with a simple,
nonverbal two-way communication capability. Incident commanders can
request personnel accountability reports through the Visual Command
tablet to ensure that crew members are not in distress. Responders
wearing C-THRU can send a ``thumbs-up'' reply, confirming their status
or, if needed, issue a mayday to request help.
There is also the opportunity to gain post-operation insight via
the Visual Command tablet to support continuous improvement.
innovations upon innovations
The heart of the C-THRU device is the Navigator heads-up display. A
small piece of abrasion-resistant glass flips down within the user's
field of vision and images are projected onto this piece of glass. A
reflective coating known as a dichroic filter splits the beam of light
that's projecting the images, bouncing certain wavelengths of light
back to the viewer's eye while also allowing them to still see through
the glass. The glass features advanced hydrophilic coating materials
designed to help reduce fogging and power consumption.
C-THRU is designed to be attached to a firefighter's existing
helmet during smoke investigations, structural firefighting, and
general rescue operations. Three interlinked modules spread
functionality and weight across the helmet, while reducing impact risk
and snag hazard. The center of mass is strategically located toward the
back of the head rather than the front to reduce forward tipping and
improve comfort. The adjustable mechanical hinge boasts a breakaway
safety feature, should the device become caught on something during a
response.
The technology was also designed to be able to take the heat. A
major obstacle for any firefighters' gear, extreme temperatures were
addressed up front with conscientious enclosure design and physical
packaging. C-THRU has a rubberized surface with hard plastic beneath
that protects the printed circuit boards and enables the software to
properly function despite extreme temperature. Thermal survivability
stress testing isn't limited to what the system--or the user--will
encounter during a firefighting response, it also involves the function
of the system itself. Developers needed to determine how much power the
system uses with all peripherals connected and ensure the central
processing unit and graphics processing unit could remain operational
without overheating. S&T and Qwake created a full spectrum of simulated
user stress levels to assess performance and optimize the C-THRU device
for use in any situation a firefighter may face.
s&t prioritized ease of use
Every aspect of the product has been designed with user experience
in mind, including ergonomic, well-placed buttons. In fact, a whole lot
of thought has gone into refining the placement and function of the
buttons to provide an intuitive tactile experience. Rather than simply
pressing down from above onto a flat surface, like a computer keyboard,
the architecture of C-THRU's buttons have a tilted angle and are each
divided by elevated ridges so the user will be able to comfortably
align their fingers and recognize which buttons are activated without
seeing them. The development of the button geometry and configuration
has incorporated invaluable feedback from firefighters in S&T's First
Responder Resource Group who shared the need for large buttons that can
accommodate their large gloves.
``I've been involved for quite a few years now, so I've seen the
prototype evolve to where we're at right now . . . it's come a very,
very long way. And I'm impressed,'' said Walter Vidosh, Menlo Park Fire
Protection District Captain.
The control menu is similarly intuitive and well-tested. C-THRU's
three features of navigation, vision, and communication are accessed
via an interactive flow that employs user experience/user interface
best practices. The system is designed to minimize the number of
selections necessary to arrive at a desired result and never leave the
user in a digital dead end. Key communications features and functions
include critical alerts such as emergency evacuation and mayday
distress signal, incident notifications related to various stages of a
response, and system status information, for example, battery charge
levels.
putting the tech to the test
S&T officials, representatives from Qwake, and firefighter
evaluators recently convened at the San Diego Fire-Rescue Training
Facility in California at the end of August for an operational field
assessment to test the capabilities of this innovative equipment
enhancement. The assessment included both the Navigator helmet
accessory and Visual Command tablet. S&T's National Urban Security
Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) oversaw the event, designing three
different scenarios that subjected this technology to the punishing
realities of firefighting.
Kris Dooley, NUSTL Program Analyst, explained, ``NUSTL will
consolidate the data received from the responders, develop a report
that will be published for the responder community, and that
information goes to Qwake for potential inclusion, to enhance the
products prior to commercialization.''
Firefighters were outfitted with C-THRU Navigator prior to entering
a heated, dark, smoke-filled space. The scenarios allowed them to
assess operational aspects such as comfort, usability and compatibility
with personal protective equipment as well as the edge detection
thermal imagining, and incident command communication functions. The
feedback from the responders will help further refine the product for
successful commercialization in 2024.
As Captain Justin Quarisa, of the Cosumnes Fire Department in Elk
Grove, California, put it, ``The wow factor is just the incredible
technology. Obviously, we have thermal imagers, but putting that on
your helmet with a heads-up display and then the firefighter tracking
is something that everybody's been trying to solve. So just having
those capabilities and then the AI component where it enhances what
you're seeing with the green image or you can, you know, take it off if
you don't like it, but it really just gives you a lot better picture of
a room, almost like you're watching a video game.''
You can learn more about C-THRU by listening to our Tech Speak
minisode of the Technologically Speaking podcast, ``Almost Like You're
Watching a Video Game'' on Apple or Google podcasts or on our website.
Mr. Correa. Thank you.
Mr. Guest. I now recognize Chairman Strong for 5 minutes.
Mr. Strong. To effectively counter emerging threats, it's
important to understand enemy capabilities and the technologies
that are evolving in this space. Dr. Ledbetter, I know COLSA
designs and produces swarming threat represented drones for the
Army, but can this technology be used for other purposes?
Mr. Ledbetter. Absolutely. We've used swarming drones to
create a symmetry on the battlefield. That can be used in a
positive manner as well. For a couple of things, No. 1, we use
multiple transmission methods that creates resiliency. When
communications go down in a humanitarian assistance disaster
recovery-type situation, that can provide resilience and
communication. So that's one aspect it can be used.
The second aspect could be coverage. So with swarms, you're
just going to get more coverage instead of just 1 drone. You
mentioned in one of the opening statements about MQ-9. It's 1
drone. It's a very powerful drone. However, we can provide a
swarm up to 100 from a single laptop. That can provide more
coverage with more sensors that can do a lot of--essentially,
100 different missions. So yes, it could absolutely be
repurposed.
Mr. Strong. While on the topic of drone technology, we also
hear a lot about technological advancement in drones as they
relate to AI decision making. Dr. Ledbetter, what role do you
see for these technologies within the DHS and first responder
mission spaces? What advancements are likely on the horizon?
Mr. Ledbetter. Well, so we'll start with just AI. You know,
we use that term a lot. Drone-to-drone communication using
large language models to incorporate artificial intelligence/
machine learning into the swarms helps them automate not only
their flight path but automate response. We've heard about
drone in a box where you have drones prepositioned, and without
anybody actually controlling the drone, you can use AI to
respond to some incident or, you know, a variety of incidents,
whether it be a lost person at night or whether it be, you
know, an accident on the interstate.
Mr. Strong. Thank you.
Everyone here understands the essential role that colleges,
universities, and other academic institutions play in
supporting the research, testing, and evaluation of new and
emerging technologies. Mr. Hendrix, your program at the
University of Alabama in Huntsville has advanced both
Government and industry use of aerospace and autonomous
engineering solutions. Could you expand on the value that UAH
and other academic institutions offer that differ from industry
and why this is advantageous to DHS?
Mr. Hendrix. Yes, sir. Thank you for the question, Chairman
Strong. We appreciate that.
So part of the research that we're doing in autonomy
includes looking at advanced algorithms and development
relative to artificial intelligence or machine learning,
looking at things that are known as leader follower on multi-
application operations. We are having the ability to operate in
close proximity at the university and also on the university to
test out those certain kinds of paradigms. It gives us the
ability to look at those algorithms and refine those
developments in a more of a research standpoint so we can come
up with a solution that an organization like COLSA could
develop and then produce.
One of the things we would originally do at the DOD side is
a customer brought to us a very specialized requirement. I need
you to build the capability to do X, Y, Z. I need you to have
it built in a modular sense. Can you do it in 6 months? We did,
and we developed that and that is now ready for production.
Mr. Strong. Very impressive.
Given the increasing importance of UAS in rapid response
scenarios, it raises an important question about how our
regulations and processes are evolving to keep pace. Mr.
Hendrix, in your opinion, with the increased use and capability
of drones, are there any UAS regulations or processes that need
to be adjusted?
Mr. Hendrix. Yes, sir, absolutely. If you look at the
counter-UAS side, for example, we deal with economic--mentioned
these in the testimony--the different types of regulations that
need to be adjusted to allow us to do a full set of testing in
the counter-UAS area where there would also be detection or
mitigation. We're working with DHS on that, but we've been
unable to, because of regulation, to be able to do full
testing. Again, we test and we need to be able to test as we
operate.
Mr. Strong. Those partnerships are very valuable.
Mr. Hendrix. Yes, sir.
Mr. Strong. In the previous administration, for every drone
flown by Border Patrol, the Mexican cartel flew 17, many times
entering U.S. air space, to land and offload pounds of fentanyl
in an attempt to kill a generation of Americans. What is most
interesting, in Huntsville, Alabama, we have the proven
technology to neutralize that drone threat. We can intercept
and do forensics. We can block their flight or we can drop and
destroy them. Our time is now.
I thank each of you for being here today. Your information
is very valuable. Again, thank you each for being here.
Mr. Guest. Thank you, Chairman Strong.
I now recognize the gentleman from New York, Ranking Member
Kennedy, for his 5 minutes of questioning.
Mr. Kennedy. Thank you, Chairman. Again, thanks to each of
you for your testimony.
Also, Dr. Ledbetter, thank you for your 30 years of service
in the United States Marine Corps. Extremely impressive.
So I represent a Congressional district, Buffalo Niagara
region in western New York, and we have our own fair share of
extreme weather, and oftentimes it's extreme winter weather. We
average over 90 inches of snowfall each winter. A few years
back, Christmas weekend, over 48 hours there was over 50 inches
of snow that dropped, along with blinding wind and below zero
temperatures. It was a blizzard, Winter Storm Elliot, breaking
record numbers. Forty-seven people perished in my community,
just to give you an idea of the impact of this storm.
I mentioned earlier in my opening remarks how local law
enforcement used drone technology to find an individual that
had been lost in a wooded area using infrared technology. Of
course, Chief Fetterman, you're speaking to the impact of drone
technology during wildfires, all of these natural disasters
that are occurring with more ferociousness and certainly more
often.
Chief Fetterman, can you describe the importance of testing
and piloting drones in emergencies that are caused by these
extreme weather events?
Chief Fetterman. Yes, sir. Ranking Member Kennedy, thank
you for the question.
So certainly the last time you want to put a drone up is
the first time. So what we want to ensure is that our
personnel, when they're using drones for life safety, is to
ensure they have plenty of opportunities to be prepared and
they're well-trained. So we can leverage the technology,
example IR technology, in a remote rescue environment safely,
professionally and, most importantly, quickly. You know, time
is life in our business. So having that preparation in blue sky
days is most important, that way our folks are ready and
prepared to go to work when the time is right.
Mr. Kennedy. Thank you. Are there ways the Federal
Government can help with these test cases?
Chief Fetterman. So certainly, as I stated, the support of
grants that can assist with the testing process and the
training process. For example, recently we used UASI grants for
an incident management team training that revolved around drone
swarms and aircraft and what would occur. So our personnel--and
that was an operational, area-wide, county-wide program. Test
and training is making us better prepared to respond.
Mr. Kennedy. Thank you. Chief Fetterman, can you speak to
how the Federal agencies support fire response? I'm personally
extremely concerned about the impacts on local first responders
at the cuts to FEMA and NOAA will have. Can you speak to the
agency's support?
Chief Fetterman. Sure. So certainly there are impacts to
the fire service. Specifically under FEMA, U.S. Fire
Administration is an essential element for fire service
leadership and the American fire service. As I stated, the
National Fire Academy is the backbone of our leadership. It's
analogous to the Navy War College. It is important to our fire
service leadership to be educated. Certainly, the grants, as I
think as we mentioned, the funding opportunities to leverage to
get those tools into the hands of the local first responders
that are responding on Federal responsibility area land.
Last, our fire department and many fire departments and
police departments across this Nation participate in the
National Urban Search and Rescue System. That is a system that
I have personally deployed with in a handful of States and
supported local first responders.
The National Urban Search and Rescue System and its 28
national task forces is a critical element of FEMA and it
responds on every national disaster. For example, every
hurricane, mud and debris flow, flooding, the Surfside building
collapse in Florida, those are elements in areas that those
task forces respond and support all the local entities. I can't
say enough about how well and what a cost-effective resource
those are. Because those aren't Federal responders all the
time; those are hosted by the home agencies. So it's a great
program.
Mr. Kennedy. I have more questions, but I'm out of time. I
yield back. Thank you.
Mr. Guest. Thank you.
I now recognize the gentlelady from South Carolina for her
5 minutes of questioning, Mrs. Biggs.
Mrs. Biggs. Thank you, Chairman Guest. I want to thank you
for holding this hearing today, especially considering the
recent wildfires that have impacted my own district. My
thoughts and prayers are with the families and the first
responders and the entire communities impacted by these fires.
I have been on the ground alongside State and local
leadership, and I want to be as helpful as possible. I have
been inspired by the way our community has come together.
That's the spirit of South Carolina and that's something to be
proud of.
Earlier today, I received a message that so far in my
district, 12,652 acres have burned, with 30 percent
containment. That was a little earlier today. This is the
second record-setting natural disaster that my constituents
have faced in the last 6 months. The Upstate is resilient and
it will rebuild.
So my question is to Mr. Farrell. Can you describe the
coordination between your organization, Federal and local
entities as you engaged in the response to Hurricane Helene?
The second question on that is, what capabilities do you
foresee drones being equipped with in future disaster
responses, and how might this expand the future missions of
drones in emergency response situations?
Mr. Farrell. Thank you, Congresswoman.
So the coordination is one where, especially in Region 4,
we're very fortunate on the remote sensing side to have a
collaborative collection plan that's really a model that
doesn't exist in any of the other regions currently. So our
partnership with Region 4 stemmed out of work that's gone back
about 8 years with NOAA to assess flood mapping and monitoring
missions through our NOAA cooperative, the Northern Gulf
Institute, and our Geosystems Research Institute.
The FEMA Region 4 took notice of the large UAS operations
and reached out through that Federal collaboration to begin
investigating the opportunity for a large UAS to engage in
these kinds of disasters, given the broad-area-type
surveillance that we can be able to provide and that endurance.
So we begin doing blue sky exercises through Project
JUSTICE to really illustrate that integration into the FEMA
operation. So when a storm, especially around hurricanes,
begins posing its threat to our region, the collaborative
collection plan is put in place. The region coordinates with
all of the stakeholders, including the State and local
emergency management agencies, to understand what their needs
are.
FEMA will reach out to us, and then we will preposition as
best as possible to be able to respond. As we get in, we on
daily calls talk about areas and targets and interests for
ingress, egress, damage assessment, search and rescue. Then we
will get mission assigned and broadcast out as we collect the
information necessary. Because we're doing this in a live
fashion--we're actually doing it through a distributed Teams
call with our pilots--they can reassign us as needed while
we're in the air.
As far as capabilities and the future for this mission, I
think that--you know, we had the conversation about autonomy--
autonomy is going to play a large role, whether that's thrown
in the box or greater capabilities around sensors, greater
capabilities around platforms, more ubiquitous-type platforms
in this type of disaster response.
One of the things we're doing is doing assured safe
training to actually train first responders in these kinds of
missions; understand the air space management that exists and
do the training for air space managers, your Air Boss, if you
will. Then what we also want to do is work with our State and
locals to be able to enhance their preparedness and understand
what the constructs are and what contracts and what kind of
needs need to be in place so that, at least in Mississippi on
our land grant mission, we can prepare our community for
response from kind-of a grassroots perspective.
Mrs. Biggs. Thank you.
I'm just going to finish up with Chief Fetterman. It's
clear that drones will play a pivotal role in assisting
disaster responses. What strategies have been used on the West
Coast to integrate drones into wildfire responses, and how have
they improved coordination between the Federal, State, and
local responders?
Chief Fetterman. Well, certainly creating situational
awareness integrates information flow between local, State, and
Federal responders and certainly on incident management teams.
So drones provide that increased situational awareness, and
they're a great tool to utilize on those kinds of events.
Certainly, air space deconfliction is a priority to us. Drones
and helicopters can't operate in the same space and time. So
we're looking forward to additional AI technology that will
allow that to better manage the air space.
Mrs. Biggs. Thank you so much. Thank you all for being here
today.
Mr. Guest. I'll now recognize the gentlelady from Illinois,
Mrs. Ramirez, for her 5 minutes of questioning.
Mrs. Ramirez. Thank you, Chairs and Ranking Members.
I'm not sure if the title of these hearings are
purposefully ironic or simply unfortunate coincidence from my
Republican colleagues' boss. Unmanned is at the heart of
President Musk's technologically-driven future world vision.
Given his devotees in the room, it makes sense that we're not
talking about the human casualties in DOGE's mass firings but
the bots he wants to take their place.
Don't get me wrong. I recognize that drones and other
innovative technologies are critical tools to assist in
disaster and emergency response, but I can't ignore the
elephant in the room. Innovative technology should be
assistive, supporting the work of emergency responders.
Another place President Musk and I disagree is that bots
assist humans, they don't replace them. People, both emergency
responders and FEMA professionals, they're at the heart of our
disaster response work across the country. But we know that
President Musk doesn't believe people are at the heart of our
disaster response work. He actually believes that machines can
work better without the human messiness of debate, of
oversight, of history, of reasoning, you know, some of the same
building blocks that create democracy, I might point out.
So it's deeply frustrating for me to see my colleagues go
along with Musk's unmanned world view, robbing first responders
of the basic resources they need to do their jobs, dismantling
FEMA, and also allowing DHS to withhold the funds that this
House appropriated which, by the way, is a violation of Federal
law, and a clear failure of the Majority to provide appropriate
oversight, the job that we have in this committee. But here we
are.
So I want to get into the questions. Chief Fetterman, yes
or no, is it helpful to first responders, like our
firefighters, when Federal agencies like FEMA cannot provide
grants for local cities, counties, and other communities to
prepare for and attend to natural disasters? Yes or no?
Chief Fetterman. Congresswoman Ramirez, no, it is not
helpful.
Mrs. Ramirez. Thank you. Chief Fetterman, I have another
question for you. Yes or no, does it help firefighters when the
Federal Government guts initiatives for research and new
technologies that assist first responders in doing their job
safer and more effectively?
Chief Fetterman. No, it is not, ma'am.
Mrs. Ramirez. Thank you. Pivoting slightly. We know that
some of these new technologies and bots that Elon loves so much
has some bias and some privacy problems, just like him. In
2024, the Government Accountability Office, GAO, found drones
can support law enforcement. However, the use of those
technologies in public spaces where a warrant is not
necessarily required prior to use has led us with concerns
about how law enforcement is ensuring that we're protecting
civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy.
Given that President Musk and Trump and his loyal follower
Noem have gutted the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, CRCL,
Division at DHS which was tasked with preventing civil rights
and liberty violations in the agency's work, I want to ask all
of our witnesses here, how do your programs either offer
capabilities or take steps to protect sensitive information
acquired by the use of drones? I'll start with Mr. Farrell.
Mr. Farrell. Yes, thank you. So I think when we develop
these technologies, we definitely want to make sure that the
information is safeguarded. I think, moreover, one step that
we're taking specifically at Raspet is coordinating with the
Ole Miss law program. So there's a Drone and Space Law program.
I had an opportunity to guest lecture last Tuesday. One of the
key initiatives that we were discussing was drone privacy,
drone usage, admissibility in courts, as well as the
safeguarding on that data.
So one thing that we are really focused on is not only the
enabling capability, the mitigating on the countering the
threat, but also, how do you employ it in a way that's best to
protect civil liberties for those operators?
Mrs. Ramirez. Thank you for all that, Mr. Farrell.
I want to get to the rest of you, so you have like 5 or 7
seconds, but Dr. Ledbetter.
Mr. Ledbetter. Yes, ma'am, thank you. The Army is our
customer. We're bound by their cybersecurity and data
requirements, and we're in compliance with them.
Mrs. Ramirez. Thank you. Mr. Hendrix.
Mr. Hendrix. Yes. No social media location revealed and
existing data, once a determination is made--[inaudible] for
research to continue--I mean for search-and-rescue to continue,
it's eliminated.
Mrs. Ramirez. Thank you. Chief Fetterman.
Chief Fetterman. The fire service goes to great lengths to
protect private information, but our priority is life safety.
We focus on life safety and saving lives and property.
Mrs. Ramirez. Thank you. With that, I yield back.
Mr. Guest. Thank you.
The Chair now recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina,
Mr. Knott, for his 5 minutes of questioning.
Mr. Knott. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the
witnesses who are here.
I will say that I am a little bit miffed whenever I hear
grievances about the current President and the funding that
seems to be at issue. When you look at sanctuary cities,
sanctuary States, and the amount of tax dollars that are going
to illegal immigrants and States just like Illinois, New York
City, California, et cetera, where illegals, we now know, were
getting free health care, free education, free transportation,
these allocations in dollars far exceed the total budget of
FEMA. So I find it a little bit disingenuous that we're railing
on money that should otherwise be reappropriated or
reallocated.
Mrs. Ramirez. Mr. Knott, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. Knott. No, ma'am.
When we have had 4 years of draining billions and billions
and billions of dollars to people who are not here illegally,
crocodile tears over FEMA not having enough money seems to be
somewhat disingenuous.
In regards to the issue at hand that we should be
discussing, I would love to ask you, Mr. Hendrix, as a former
Federal prosecutor, drones are being used to a very effective
extent to undermine law enforcement and, truly, our national
security, whether it's the cartels, whether it's local
transnational gangs, whether it's the Chinese Communist Party,
whoever it may be, drones are a force multiplier. One of my
greatest frustrations, whether it was the Bureau of Prisons,
whether it was Federal law enforcement along the border,
whether it was counter-surveillance measures that were being
executed, what are technologies that we can implement and we
can provide or promote that would stop criminals from using
drones so effectively?
Mr. Hendrix. There are some technologies that allow us to
establish right world operations to eliminate aircraft from
operating in the area. Of course, the threat has evolved so
that now they're just flying aircraft on fiber optic cables,
right. So it's hard to do that.
Another thing I think is important from our standpoint is
to look at what things we can do to enforce our capabilities so
that they're not vulnerable to these technologies. Our counter-
UAS systems, for example, should be tested to certify threats
by an independent agent based on a particular scenario that
you're trying to protect.
Mr. Knott. OK. Can you explain just briefly how that would
work in the field? How would that technology be best
implemented?
Mr. Hendrix. So the right world technologies, for example,
as you identify your particular aircraft that's going to be
operating, you could look at it as comparable to, roughly,
comparably remote ID or to UAS traffic management. You identify
those aircraft that are operating in the area of any other
aircraft that's reported or detected by radar, so certainly
uncooperatives.
Mr. Knott. OK. Thank you, sir.
Dr. Ledbetter, I want to talk to you. In regards to the
components that go into many drones that we use in a law
enforcement capacity and a first responder capacity, it's my
understanding that many of those components are made in other
countries, whether it's China, whether it's other nation-
states. Are you familiar with the basic percentage of our
components that are put into American drones that are made in
China or other countries?
Mr. Ledbetter. I'm not familiar with that number, sir.
Mr. Knott. Are you familiar--is it a problem that you're
aware of?
Mr. Ledbetter. It is a problem, yes, sir.
Mr. Knott. How would you quantify--briefly, we've got a
minute-and-a-half--from your expertise, how can we assist
bringing some of those jobs and technologies back to the United
States for manufacturing?
Mr. Ledbetter. Well, it's absolutely critical. I find that
most, whether it's first responders, military members,
whatever, they want to get the job done and they'll get the job
done. Right now the cheapest, most available resource out there
is going to be a DJI, which is a Chinese product. We need to
comply with NDAA and bring those parts back into the United
States and build a compliant American-made drone.
Did I answer your question?
Mr. Knott. It did, but in regards, I guess--to follow up,
in regards to what we can do in this committee, are there
certain regulations, rules, laws that make it more costly for
drone manufacturers to operate or to produce their materials
here as opposed to overseas, that you're aware of?
Mr. Ledbetter. Absolutely. Supply chain is--you know, we're
hamstrung by the supply chain to get parts. Availability is
another issue, and then price. We're looking at anywhere from 3
to 5 times the cost per part to make an American-made drone
versus a DJI, or a Chinese part.
Mr. Knott. In regards to the technology as you understand
it, how are American companies, how are American innovators
fairing as it relates to international competitors?
Mr. Ledbetter. I don't really have that data. I know as far
as we're concerned, it takes significantly more money and more
resources and more time to build a compliant drone versus a
noncompliant drone.
Mr. Knott. One more question. When you say compliant drone,
just so we understand, what are you referring to?
Mr. Ledbetter. NDAA compliance.
Mr. Knott. OK. Thank you, sir.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
Mr. Guest. Thank you.
In closing, I would like to thank all of our witnesses for
their valuable testimony. I would like to thank Chairman
Strong, Ranking Member Correa, Ranking Member Kennedy, and all
of the Members for their participation in today's hearing.
The Members of the subcommittees may have additional
questions for the witnesses and we would ask the witnesses to
respond to these questions in writing.
Pursuant to committee rule VII(E), the hearing record will
be held open for 10 days.
Without objection, the subcommittees stand adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 4:03 p.m., the subcommittees adjourned.]
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