US Joint Counter-sUAS Office (JCO)

The Joint Counter-sUAS Office (JCO), established in late 2019 under the Secretary of the Army as DoD Executive Agent, leads and directs Department of Defense efforts in counter-small UAS (Groups 1-3) doctrine, requirements, materiel development, and training to establish joint solutions within a common architecture against current and future small UAS threats, enhancing warfighter capabilities in homeland, host nation, and contingency operations. As of 2022-2024, the program is active in procurement and development, funding research, semi-annual industry demonstrations (e.g., Demo 4 in Jun 2023 for Group 3 one-way attack, Demo 5 in Jun 2024 for counter-swarm), down-selecting to initial joint systems (e.g., 10 initial, later 7 approved), and expanding training with Full Operational Capability targeted for 1QFY25. From a defense-intelligence perspective, JCO holds strategic significance by synchronizing DoD responses to proliferating sUAS threats, including swarms and contested electromagnetic environments, through innovation, interagency/allied coordination, and integration of kinetic, electronic warfare, laser, and low-collateral solutions to protect forces and outpace adversaries.