# DoW Establishes North Dakota Counter-Drone Evaluation Pathway

On October 14, 2026, the Department of War’s Joint Inter Agency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401) and the University of North Dakota (UND) signed an MOU for UND, supported by the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, to screen and assess counter-drone technologies against task-force objectives and technical standards. The arrangement creates a potential evaluation pathway for technology developers, but the announcement identifies no funded solicitation, contract value, or formal bidding process.

- The MOU establishes an assessment route for technologies intended to detect, protect against, and neutralize unmanned-aircraft threats; it does not constitute a contract award or an open procurement.
- Counter-UAS developers may use the stated task-force objectives and technical standards to assess the relevance of their offerings, while recognizing that no funding or bidding process was announced.
- For contractors, the development signals an evaluation role for UND and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site in JIATF 401’s counter-drone efforts, rather than a confirmed near-term revenue opportunity.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Information Technology
**Published:** October 15, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of War (DoW)
- Joint Inter Agency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401)
- University of North Dakota (UND)
- Northern Plains UAS Test Site

### Key Quotes
> Now, UND will serve as the clearinghouse for this task force, leveraging the expertise of its researchers and the capabilities of the Northern Plains UAS Test Site to assess technologies that can be used to detect, protect against and neutralize threats from unmanned aircraft.
> — John Hoeven, U.S. Senator

### Sources
- [Hoeven: UND to Assess Technology for Department of War Counter-Drone Task Force](https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/hoeven-und-to-assess-technology-for-department-of-war-counter-drone-task-force) - Hoeven Senate