AUSTIN — The Texas Department of Public Safety has secured roughly $3.2 million in FEMA grant funding to amass drone mitigation know-how forward of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, based on a division announcement.
The funding will assist the deployment of superior counter-UAS know-how designed to detect, monitor and mitigate unauthorized or probably harmful drone exercise round main occasions and demanding infrastructure.
“Major international events like the FIFA World Cup bring millions of visitors to Texas and place incredible demands on public safety and critical infrastructure protection,” DPS Colonel Freeman F. Martin stated in an announcement. “DPS is fully committed to using every available resource — including advanced drone mitigation technology — to safeguard Texans, secure key venues and infrastructure. Let me be very clear, we will not hesitate to act against threats that put public safety at risk.”
Dallas and Houston are among the many host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and DPS stated the know-how will assist defend massive crowds, restricted airspace and demanding infrastructure surrounding venues in each cities, in addition to future large-scale occasions statewide.
According to DPS, the system will assist each stationary and cellular deployments, permitting operators to watch airspace from fastened websites or whereas shifting between places. The know-how makes use of radio-frequency monitoring and federally mandated distant identification alerts to detect and monitor unmanned plane programs in actual time.
In addition to figuring out drones, the system will embrace mitigation capabilities supposed to soundly disrupt or take management of unauthorized drones that pose threats to public security, emergency response operations or vital infrastructure, DPS stated. The company famous all operations will adjust to federal legislation and oversight necessities.
“As drone activity continues to increase, having the ability to detect, track and mitigate unauthorized drones is critical to protecting large crowds and emergency operations,” DPS Chief Pilot of Aircraft Operations Stacy Holland stated. “We strongly encourage all drone operators to follow FAA regulations, properly register their aircraft and understand flight restrictions before taking to the skies.”
DPS personnel assigned to this system will full specialised counter-UAS coaching carried out by the FBI. The coaching focuses on lawful mitigation operations, system use and coordinated responses throughout high-profile occasions.
The company stated the initiative aligns with current federal motion increasing counter-drone authority for state, native, tribal and territorial legislation enforcement companies. Provisions included within the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act prolonged authority associated to the detection and mitigation of drones that pose security or safety threats whereas establishing federal requirements for authorised counter-UAS operations.
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