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A COA allows DoD UAS to fly pre-coordinated flight routes to DoD special use airspace. In order for DoD UAS to operate in the NAS, the Department of Defense is required to obtain a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These aircraft range in size from the small RQ-11B Raven to the largest RQ/MQ-4 Global Hawk/Triton, which weighs more than 32,000 pounds.ĭoD UAS currently do not have direct access to the National Airspace System (NAS), unlike manned aircraft. The Department currently operates more than 11,000 UAS in support of domestic training events and overseas contingency missions. The Department of Defense fields DoD UAS across all four Services, including the National Guard. This extensive experience is the foundation of the Department’s careful adherence to aviation safety policies and procedures regarding both manned and unmanned aircraft. DoD has logged millions of UAS flight hours worldwide.
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The primary purpose, and large majority, of DoD domestic UAS operations is for DoD forces to gain realistic training experience, test equipment and tactics in preparation for potential overseas warfighting missions, which occasionally also contributes DSCA training and exercises. Additionally, in recognition of the potential value of UAS, the Secretary of Defense has authorized State Governors to use smaller UAS by State National Guard units conducting Search and Rescue, and Incident and Awareness and Assessment missions, while in a State Active Duty status. This guidance also states that armed DOD UAS may not be used in the United States except for training, exercises, and testing purposes. This policy direction is set out in the Secretary of Defense Policy Memorandum titled Guidance for the Domestic Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems in U.S. DoD only conducts these operations with the approval of the Secretary of Defense, who in 2018, delegated the approval of the use of smaller UAS to the Secretaries of the Military Departments, or the Geographic Combatant Commander where smaller UAS use supports Force Protection and Defense Support of Civil Authorities. On occasion, DoD operates UAS domestically in support of a request from Federal or State civilian authorities. Since 2006, DoD has had very specific and stringent guidance on the domestic use of DoD UAS.