FAA and DoD Develop Regulations for Drone Operations Near Sensitive Airspace

FAA and DoD Explore Integration of Drones and Airspace Management

Panel Discussion Highlights Cooperation on Drone Traffic Management

As drone operations increase around airports, military installations, and critical infrastructure, regulators and defense agencies are confronted with the challenge of safely integrating authorized drone traffic into complex airspace while safeguarding sensitive locations. This issue was the focus of a panel discussion during AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2026 in Detroit, where officials from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Defense (DoD), and industry representatives discussed efforts to coordinate unmanned traffic management (UTM), counter-UAS systems, and traditional air traffic operations.

The discussion underscored a significant shift in the approach to drone security. The challenge has evolved from merely detecting unauthorized aircraft to finding ways for legitimate drone operations to coexist with military missions, airport activities, and civil aviation.

The situation is akin to managing vehicle traffic at sensitive sites, where delivery trucks, contractors, and civilian vehicles operate alongside military traffic. The current focus is on how to apply this concept to airspace management.

Transitioning to Automated Systems

John Sawyer from Modern Technology Solutions represented the DoD and explained that the department initially developed its own UTM capabilities to coordinate drone operations around military installations. This effort has since evolved into a broader integration platform known as the Federal Unmanned Aircraft System Service (USS).

The Federal USS now combines both UTM and counter-UAS functions. “We are working on transitioning from manual coordination to automated strategic deconfliction,” Sawyer stated, emphasizing the need to replace fragmented coordination methods with centralized operational intent sharing, active telemetry, and automated approvals where applicable.

He described the Collaborative Low-Altitude UAS Aircraft System Integration Effort (CLUE) as a “system of systems” that integrates:

• Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower operations
• Base operators
• Drone traffic management
• Counter-UAS defense modules

This integration is particularly complex for military installations, which must coordinate drone operations with manned aircraft while also integrating military airspace with surrounding civil airspace.

FAA’s Commitment to National Airspace Safety

While the integration of air traffic around military bases differs from that around civil airports, the FAA collaborates closely with the DoD and other federal security partners to leverage ongoing test events and share insights. FAA officials highlighted that their primary role is to ensure the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS), even as counter-UAS systems become more prevalent. A key focus is understanding how detection and mitigation systems interact with legitimate aircraft operating in proximity.

“We’ve conducted testing to assess how detection and mitigation systems impact other systems in the NAS,” said Paul Strande of the FAA UAS Integration Office.

Importance of Interoperability

Panelists emphasized that interoperability between systems will be crucial as drone traffic continues to grow. Jessica Brightman of the FAA expressed optimism that military systems are adopting the same UTM standards being developed for civil operations. “Interoperability is really important,” she noted, highlighting the potential for machines to share data effectively.

However, military and civilian systems often have differing security requirements, leading to unresolved questions regarding data access, operational intent sharing, and information protection. Despite these challenges, speakers indicated that cooperation between agencies is increasing. The overarching goal is to create an operational framework where authorized drone operations can safely coexist with airports, military installations, and manned aviation.

This balancing act is poised to become a significant infrastructure challenge in the next phase of drone integration.