Ahead of the World Cup and Olympics, DHS offers grants for counter-drone tech - The Daily Scoop Podcast

Summary4 min read

The Daily Scoop Podcast
Episode: Ahead of the World Cup and Olympics, DHS offers grants for counter-drone tech
Host: Billy Mitchell
Date: November 3, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Billy Mitchell highlights the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) new grant program designed to help states and local governments deploy counter-drone technologies in preparation for major upcoming international events like the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. Additionally, the podcast covers a technological milestone: defense company Anduril’s first live flight test of its prototype drone for the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. DHS Launches Grants for Counter-Drone Technology

(00:18 – 04:35)

Purpose of the Grants:
DHS is offering grant funding to non-federal partners (state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, plus first responders) to acquire technology for detecting and tracking unauthorized or malicious drones, addressing growing national security threats tied to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
Funding & Awards:
- DHS estimates allocating $250 million in FY2026 to this program, with further funding expected.
- 12 awards will be given, each with a 36-month performance period.
- Individual award amounts will vary and decisions will be made within 30–60 days of application.
Technology Limitations Due to Regulations:
Awardees cannot use grant funding for “Enhanced Detect, Track and Identification (DTI) systems” that involve intercepting or decoding drone signals due to privacy laws and airspace regulations.

“Awardees will not be permitted to use the federal funding to purchase what's known as Enhanced Detect, Track and Identification systems…including those that capture, record, intercept, demodulate, decrypt or decode signals between UAS and ground control stations.”
— Billy Mitchell (02:42)
Rising Drone Threats:
There has been an increase in drone-related risks such as surveillance, disruptions, or attacks, prompting the military to ramp up investment in defensive and sensor technologies.
Risk-Based Prioritization:
Projects are scored based on the effectiveness of proposed training and equipment, with priority for events of national significance (like the World Cup and Olympics).

“Funding is allocated to projects based on the risk associated with the project location multiplied by effectiveness of the project.”
— Billy Mitchell (03:56)
Legal Background & Broader Funding:
The grant program was enabled by the "One Big Beautiful Bill" signed by President Donald Trump in July, allocating:
- $500 million for counter-UAS at the state and local level
- $625 million for World Cup security
- $1 billion for Olympics security
- $450 million for border security under the Stone Garden Grant Program.

2. Defense Technology Update: Anduril’s Flight Test for Air Force CCA Program

(04:36 – 05:59)

Anduril’s Breakthrough Test:
Anduril conducted the first live flight test of its drone prototype (YFQ44A) for the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which focuses on integrating unmanned fighters with manned jets.
Significance:
- Live tests advance knowledge about flight performance, autonomous controls, and mission system integration.
- Anduril follows General Atomics, who conducted a similar test in August.
Competition & Next Steps:
The CCA program is highly competitive, with contracts also awarded to General Atomics, Shield AI, and RTX.
Strategic Goals:
The Air Force aims to purchase up to 1,000 CCA drones with fielding before 2030.
Memorable Quote from Air Force Secretary:

“This milestone demonstrates how competition drives innovation, accelerates delivery. These flights are giving us the hard data we need to shape requirements, reduce risk and ensure the CCA program delivers combat capability on pace and scale that keeps us ahead of the threat.”
— Secretary of the Air Force Troy Menk (05:38)
Role of CCA Drones:
These “robotic wingmen” are meant to fly alongside manned sixth and fifth generation aircraft to conduct offensive strikes, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

On the Motivation for Counter-Drone Grants:

“DHS estimates that $250 million will be obligated for the program in fiscal 2026 alone and more money is expected to flow.”
— Billy Mitchell (01:43)
On the Context of Broader National Security Funding:

“That legislation also has provisions that pledge $625 million for security and other costs related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and $1 billion for security planning and other costs related to the 2028 Olympics.”
— Billy Mitchell (04:20)

Timestamps of Major Segments

00:18 – 04:35: DHS counter-drone grant program explained, funding specifics, legal limitations, and context of large event security planning.
04:36 – 05:59: Anduril’s CCA drone flight test for the Air Force, program competition, and future drone warfare plans.

For more federal government and technology news, visit fedscoop.com.

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Transcript2 lines

[00:02]
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Today on the Daily Scoop podcast from the Scoop newsgroup Ahead of the World cup and the 2028 Olympics, DHS is offering grants to states and local governments for counter drone technology and Anduril conducts its first flight test for the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone prototype. It's Monday, November 3, 2025. Welcome to the Daily Scoop Podcast where you'll hear the latest news and trends facing government leaders. I'm the host of the Daily Scoop Podcast, Billy Mitchell. Thanks so much for joining me. And now let's dive into the day's top headlines. The Department of Homeland Security's non federal government partners and communities across the US can now apply for funding grants for certain counter drone capabilities to address national security and safety threats posed by the illegal and nefarious use of unmanned aircraft systems. Officials wrote in a notice published online last week that, quote, the funding enables state, local, tribal and territorial governments, along with first responders and public safety entities, to acquire detection and tracking technologies designed to safeguard public spaces and critical infrastructure. Unquote. DHS estimates that $250 million will be obligated for the program in fiscal 2026 alone and and more money is expected to flow. Decisions about individual awards will happen between 30 and 60 days of the application submissions. DHS expects to make 12 awards with financial assistance amounts to be decided and ranging across the winner set. All projects will have a performance period of 36 months. Notably, the awardees will not be permitted to use the federal funding to purchase what's known as Enhanced Detect, Track and Identification systems, or DTI systems, including those that capture, record, intercept, demodulate, decrypt or decode signals between UAS and ground control stations. Due to the significant legal restrictions, privacy concerns and federal airspace regulations, state, local and tribal territory entities don't currently have official authorization to employ those types of technologies. Drone threats associated with surveillance disruption or attacks have increased across the nation in recent years. The US Military is significantly expanding work and investments to deploy defensive weapons, modernize electronic warfare capabilities, enhance sensor protection and other tools to protect its facilities in the US and abroad. And with America hosting major upcoming global events, agencies and officials have been calling for coordinated efforts to more aggressively confront the risks. DHS officials wrote in the grant notice that projects will receive an effectiveness score based on related training and equipment proposed, as well as a prioritization score for projects in cities hosting events of national significance such as the World Cup, America's 250th birthday celebration, the Olympics, and so on. Funding is allocated to projects based on the risk associated with the project location multiplied by effectiveness of the project. DHS officials also noted that this opportunity was sparked by the One Big Beautiful Bill act signed into law by President Donald Trump in July, which included $500 million for state and local capabilities to detect, identify, track or monitor threats from UAS. That legislation also has provisions that pledge $625 million for security and other costs related to the 2026 FIFA World cup and $1 billion for security planning and other costs related to the 2028 Olympics, as well as $450 million for the operation Stone Garden grant program that focuses on U.S. border security. In other news Anduril's prototype drone, developed for the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft, or cca, program, has taken its first live flight, the service announced Friday. The company conducted the flight of the unmanned fighter jet known as the YFQ44A on Friday at a test location in California, the Air Force said in a press release. Beginning live flight tests of the CCA prototype expands the program's knowledge base on flight performance, autonomous behaviors and mission systems integration, the service noted. The announcement that Anduril has moved into the flight test stage comes after General Atomics conducted the first flight of its CCA offering in August. Both companies are vying for increment one of the CCA program, which is part of the Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance, or ngad, family of systems. General Atomics and Anduril received contracts for the first CCA increment in 2024, while the Air Force is also working with Shield, AI and RTX to provide the drone's mission autonomy. With both airframe vendors now in the next stage of the program, the Air Force is one step closer to making a final production decision for increment one expected in 2026. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Menk said in a statement that this milestone demonstrates how competition drives inn, accelerates delivery. These flights are giving us the hard data we need to shape requirements, reduce risk and ensure the CCA program delivers combat capability on pace and scale that keeps us ahead of the threat. The robotic wingman drones are expected to fly alongside the service's manned sixth and fifth generation aircraft to conduct a range of operations including offensive strike and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The Air Force has previously said it wants to buy up to 1000 increment 1 CCA drones and begin fielding them sometime before 2030. For more news at the intersection of the federal government and technology, make sure to visit fedscoop.com.
[06:01]
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Thanks so much for tuning in to another episode of the Daily Scoop Podcast, available on all podcast platforms. If you've already rated the podcast on your platform of choice, thanks to thanks so much. High ratings and good reviews of the show help more people to find it. The Daily Scoop Podcast is a production of the Scoop News Group in Washington, DC. Adam Butler and Carlin Fisher help put the show together and the entire Scoop News Group team contributes. We'll be back tomorrow with more top headlines. Until then, I'm your host. As always, Billy Mitchell. Thanks so much for listening.