A new handbook gives troops pointers on how to scan the sky for drones, how to estimate the length of a football field, and reminders that innocuousand/or mundane things like the shine of their glasses, a lit cigarette or discarded MRE packages could pose a risk for drones flying overhead, and can give their position away.
Published Tuesday by the Pentagon’s Joint Interagency Task Force – 401, the 2026 Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Quick Reference Guide includes drone tactics, techniques and procedures and a catalogue of drones and counter-UAS technologies currently in the U.S. inventory, including lasers, jammers, and interceptors. Task Force – 401 was set up in 2025 to coordinate drone defense and tactics across the services.
The guide tells readers up front, “it is not a substitute for doctrine or detailed technical guidance.” Instead, the guidebook is meant to be “a practical tool to help leaders and operators better understand the C-UAS landscape, identify solutions appropriate to their missions, and apply lessons learned.”
taskandpurpose.com
Published Tuesday by the Pentagon’s Joint Interagency Task Force – 401, the 2026 Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Quick Reference Guide includes drone tactics, techniques and procedures and a catalogue of drones and counter-UAS technologies currently in the U.S. inventory, including lasers, jammers, and interceptors. Task Force – 401 was set up in 2025 to coordinate drone defense and tactics across the services.
The guide tells readers up front, “it is not a substitute for doctrine or detailed technical guidance.” Instead, the guidebook is meant to be “a practical tool to help leaders and operators better understand the C-UAS landscape, identify solutions appropriate to their missions, and apply lessons learned.”
Military publishes handbook on how to identify, react to, and hide from drones
The military’s joint task force in charge of drone defense released a guide book with pointers for troops on the ground.