The American Security Drone Act of 2021 incorporates drone detection and mitigation systems, an RFI is released for an MQ-9 Reaper replacement, one drone is on Mars and another is planned for Titan, the Choctaw Nation partners with the FAA, and US drone registrations plummet.
U.S. laws and regulations restrict what the public can do for drone detection and mitigation. To help non-federal public and private entities navigate federal laws and regulations, the Department of Justice, FAA, Department of Homeland Security, and the FCC published Advisory on the Application of Federal Laws to the Acquisition and Use of Technology to Detect and Mitigate Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The bipartisan American Security Drone Act of 2021 would modify the American Security Drone Act of 2019 to incorporate drone detection and mitigation systems.
The U.S. Air Force has released a request for information for the MQ-Next program to replace the MQ-9 Reaper. The Air Force seeks a drone with defensive counter-air capabilities so it can protect high-value manned aircraft, like tankers, and potentially fly red air aggressor missions. A previous RFI from June 2020 focused on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and strike capabilities. The scope of the RFI is now expanded.
Ingenuity flights are expected to begin in 30-60 days with a flight window is planned to last 30 days. The first flight is planned to be a simple 20-30 second low altitude hover test before landing with longer flights to follow. The Dragonfly large drone is set to launch in 2027 and land on Saturn’s largest moon Titan in 2036.
The FAA and the Choctaw Nation have partnered to study how UAS can best transport cargo, including parcels, at lower altitudes. The FAA’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC), signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. The two will study human factors, supply chain management, and air traffic control using a virtual simulated urban environment. One goal of the MOU is to promote interest in STEM programs for students seeking possible careers in aerospace.
