"Surveillance, Sabotage, and Strikes: Industry Perspectives on How Drone Warfare Abroad Is Transforming Threats at Home"
Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity
2025-07-15
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Source: Congress.gov
Summary
This hearing addresses the growing domestic threat from foreign-inspired drone warfare, as evidenced by overseas conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East where adversaries deploy low-cost, commercially available drones for precision attacks. Witnesses highlight that such tactics—like Ukraine's Operation Spider Web—demonstrate the ability to launch attacks over 2,000 miles from the battlefield, potentially targeting U.S. infrastructure. The hearing notes a surge in unauthorized drone flights near airports, military facilities, and critical infrastructure, with hundreds of incidents reported in just one year. Key concerns include the use of Chinese-manufactured drones like those from DGI, which may collect sensitive data or be used in attacks, and the lack of sufficient legal authorities for state and local law enforcement to detect and mitigate threats. Industry leaders and policy experts stress that effective counter-drone tools exist but are currently fragmented, under-regulated, and inaccessible to most agencies. The hearing ultimately calls for immediate bipartisan legislation to expand federal and state counter-drone authorities, implement real-time airspace awareness systems, and ensure public safety at major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
Participants
Transcript
Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security will come to order. Without objection, the chair may declare the subcommittee in recess at any point. Today's hearings examine how drone warfare tactics used abroad are transforming threats to our homeland. From Ukraine to the Middle East, our adversaries are deploying increasingly sophisticated drone capabilities and can be adapted by terrorists, lone actors, or state proxies within the United States. This hearing will explore how industry leaders are innovating to help close critical security gaps and better protect our transportation systems and infrastructure. Without objection, the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Pflueger, is permitted to sit with the subcommittee and ask questions of the witnesses. I now recognize myself for an opening statement. Good morning. I want to thank everyone for joining us today at today's hearing, which will examine how drone warfare overseas is reshaping the threat environment here at home. In recent years, the use of unmanned aircraft systems or drones by foreign adversaries, terrorist groups, and proxy forces has grown significantly. Once confined to distant battlefields, these platforms are now being deployed in ways that challenge traditional security assumptions and expose critical vulnerabilities across our homeland. Drones have become essential tools of modern warfare. On the battlefields of Ukraine, both Russian and Ukrainian forces are deploying thousands of drones not only for surveillance and artillery targeting, but for direct offensive operations. These include quadcopters assembled from commercial parts, long-range loitering munitions, and first-person view kamikaze drones enhanced by open-source software. They are low-cost, they are adaptable, and increasingly precise. Just weeks ago, Ukraine launched a deep strike inside Russian territory using a coordinated wave of drones damaging strategic bombers thousands of miles from the front lines. Russia continues to rely on Iranian-made Shahed drones to bombard Ukrainian energy infrastructure, saturate air defenses, and inflict lasting psychological and economic harm.
In the Middle East, Iranian-backed groups such as Hezbollah and the Houthis have demonstrated the operational reach and lethality of these systems. They have targeted U.S. service members, international shipping, and critical infrastructure. The drone strike that killed three American service members in Jordan in early 2024 underscored just how dangerous and asymmetric this threat has become. More recently, during a 12-day conflict last month, Israel launched a series of drones and missile strikes against Iranian military sites, some originating from launch points within Iran itself. illustrating how even layered air defense systems can be bypassed using pre-positioned commercial technologies. What makes these developments more alarming is the accessibility of the technology. Many of the systems deployed abroad are constructed using commercially available components and open source software. These tools are not limited to nation states. Lone actors, extremists, networks, and transnational criminal organizations can easily acquire and weaponize drones with minimal cost and training. Here in the United States, the warning signs are emerging. Reports of unauthorized drone activity near airports and other critical infrastructure are becoming more frequent. Hundreds of sightings have been documented near military installations and sensitive energy facilities in the past year alone. Potential for a coordinated drone attack on an airport, seaport, or mass gathering is a credible and growing threat. My home district in South Florida is particularly exposed. With major transportation hubs like Miami International Airport, the Port of Miami, and a dense network of energy and telecommunications infrastructure, we are a high-profile target. A single drone equipped with an explosive device or electronic warfare payload could cause significant disruption, physical damage, and widespread panic. We cannot afford to be reactive. The time to act is now. Another concern is the widespread presence of Chinese manufactured drones operating within the United States.
DJI, a company based in communist China, commands a significant share of both the global and U.S. commercial drone market. Its platforms are used by private industry, lobbyists, and even some public safety agencies. In fact, even several DHS components have and explicitly use DJI's aeroscope system to monitor drone activity near sensitive locations. While Aeroscope may offer affordable situational awareness, it also raises serious concerns about the national security risks posed by Chinese-linked technology, especially regarding data access, remote control capabilities, and potential sabotage during a future crisis or conflict with China. Today's hearings will explore what the private sector is experiencing on the front lines of drone act security, the counter UAS tools that are currently available, and the extent to which federal, state, and local authorities are equipped with the legal and operational capabilities to address these threats. At present, the Department of Homeland Security has limited authorities to disrupt or disable malicious drone activity. Most state and local law enforcement agencies have no authority whatsoever. This is a glaring gap in our national preparedness, one that we must urgently address as we prepare to host globally significant events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. We'll also hear testimony on the broader risks posed by Chinese-made drones collecting sensitive location data across the United States. These systems could be used for surveillance or even carry out attacks. This is not simply a question of data privacy.
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