FEMA's $250M Counter-UAS Grant: Key Details for States and Agencies

The second round of FEMA's Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Grant Program is now open. Every state and territory is eligible, applications are due November 16, 2026, and the scoring model rewards projects that build a complete detect, track, and identify chain, prioritize radar, and support the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

On October 16, 2026, FEMA published the Fiscal Year 2027 C-UAS Grant Program notice of funding opportunity. It distributes $250 million to all states and territories, with no cost share. Only State Administrative Agencies (SAAs) can apply, and their deadline in FEMA GO is November 16, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Cities, counties, law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, and other public safety agencies take part as subrecipients through their SAA, so local agencies should contact their SAA now.

What FEMA released

The C-UAS Grant Program provides $500 million over two fiscal years to help state and local governments detect, identify, track, and monitor unmanned aircraft. The first $250 million went out in FY 2026 to the 11 FIFA World Cup host states and the National Capital Region. FEMA announced those awards on December 30, 2025, 25 days after the application deadline, which the agency called its fastest non-disaster grant ever. We covered that first round in New $1B FEMA Funding for World Cup 2026 & Drone Detection: Apply Now.

The FY 2027 round is the one we flagged earlier this year in FEMA's Next $250M in Counter-Drone Funding Opens to All States, How to Prepare Now and in our FEMA Counter-UAS Grant Program guide. It is now official, and it carries two new emphases:

• The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Los Angeles 2028 is designated a National Special Security Event (NSSE), and official ancillary events carry Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) designations. FEMA says this round must be leveraged to support the Olympic torch relay and its nationwide route.
• Nationwide detection capacity. Beyond major events, the round aims to build detection and response capability across the country, including for critical infrastructure and crowded places.

The program now operates under the authority of the SAFER SKIES Act and its implementing rules in 6 C.F.R. Part 124, which define how state and local agencies are trained, accredited, and authorized to act against drone threats.

Key facts at a glance

Allocations above the minimums are based on the DHS Terrorism Risk Methodology and the expected effectiveness of proposed projects. Pre-award costs are not allowed, so no grant-funded spending can begin before December 10, 2026.

Who can apply

The SAA is the only entity that submits to FEMA. Every other agency takes part as a subrecipient through its state.

• Eligible subrecipients: city and county agencies, law enforcement, correctional agencies, fire services, EMS, emergency management, and other qualifying public safety organizations. Regional or intergovernmental consortiums can also receive subawards. Tribal governments participate through their SAA.
• Priority subrecipients: agencies that provide first response and law enforcement for soft targets and crowded places, such as public venues and events. FEMA notes the program is not primarily intended for correctional facility enforcement unless tied directly to program goals.
• FY 2026 recipients: agencies funded in the first round can apply again to expand or improve existing capability, but FEMA will not fund unnecessary redundancy.

The designated operating agency rule. Any subaward for mitigation equipment, or for detection that requires federal authority under 6 U.S.C. § 124n (currently RF systems that access drone control communications), must name a state or local law enforcement or correctional agency as the designated operating agency. Only that agency's certified personnel can operate the system. A non-law-enforcement subrecipient can own, house, and maintain the equipment under a written custody agreement submitted with the application.

In-kind support is allowed. SAAs can keep up to 3% for management and administration and up to 20% for justified state-level equipment or activities. They can also meet pass-through requirements by providing equipment or services instead of cash, with written consent from local governments. FEMA published an example consent form for this purpose.

Not sure who your SAA is? Our SAA and funding guide walks through how to find yours.

What the funding can buy

Allowable costs fall into five categories: planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercises. Every cost needs a clear link to preventing, preparing for, or responding to terrorism, and FEMA asks that costs support NSSE and SEAR events where possible.

Radar is the stated priority. DHS strongly encourages radar with a mission-appropriate use case and a basic siting and coverage concept. The reason: RF detection generally depends on control signals or Remote ID broadcasts, while radar detects drones by their physical presence. That makes radar essential for autonomous, pre-programmed, or modified drones that emit nothing. Radar also cues EO/IR cameras and keeps track continuity in a layered system. Our radar drone detection guide covers how radar fits into a layered setup.

Mitigation has tight limits. Mitigation equipment must be mobile (hand-held or vehicle-emplaced), fall within a category on the federal Authorized Technology List, and appear on the Authorized Systems List where that list is populated. Fixed mitigation is not allowed.

FEMA's spending targets give a sense of the expected mix: about 70% of funds on equipment, 10% on contracted C-UAS services, and 20% on training.

Not allowed: general-use facility and vehicle costs, general-use software and computers, recurring operating costs, organizational operating expenses, technology development studies, proof-of-concept projects, weapons, and indirect costs. Vehicles and trailers modified for C-UAS equipment are allowed. Drones made or assembled by covered foreign entities cannot be bought or operated with these funds.

How projects are scored

DHS Science and Technology experts score each project on a 100-point effectiveness checklist. Event support and mitigation carry the most weight, but about a quarter of the points reward a well-built detection program.

Two details matter for planning. First, SAAs should submit projects worth 150% of their allocation, so FEMA can fund the next project in line if one falls through. Second, within 30 days of award, applicants submit project-level details for that 150%. A detection-only project can still compete well: radar, cameras, RF, Remote ID, a software layer, connectivity, and a fast schedule add up across several categories.

Requirements to plan for now

Training and certification. The FBI's National Counter-UAS Training Center (NCUTC) is the sole certifying authority. Applications should include proof of registration or certification.

• Mitigation equipment: personnel must hold a current NCUTC Mitigation Certification or be enrolled in the course. Operators also need an FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate.
• RF detection that accesses control links: personnel need the NCUTC Detection and Warning Certification. The course is online, free, and has no waitlist.
• Radar, EO/IR cameras, acoustic sensors, and Remote ID receivers: not subject to the NCUTC training requirement.

Accreditation before operation. Enrollment makes an agency eligible to buy, not to operate. Before operating under § 124n, the agency must complete accreditation: adopt a policy, get legal review, and attest through the Federal C-UAS Coordination Portal, renewed every year.

Data sharing with DHS. Any recipient that buys, leases, or subscribes to detection hardware, software, or data services must share relevant detection data with DHS. Vendor contracts must allow it, through feeds, APIs, viewer access, cloud access, or similar methods. Check this with every vendor before you write them into a budget.

Mutual aid. Recipients must agree to provide C-UAS mutual aid to other states, including for LA 2028, without reimbursement. The SAA certification also commits agencies to support special events outside their normal jurisdiction.

Performance reporting. Recipients report system hours in use, total detections, distinct drones identified, and criminal investigations launched from C-UAS intelligence.

Timeline and what to do now

The federal window is 31 days, and most SAAs will set earlier internal deadlines for subapplicants.

For local agencies, five steps this week:

1. Contact your SAA today. Ask for their internal deadline, their subapplicant template, and whether they plan to fund in cash or in-kind. Our SAA guide can help you find the right office.
2. Use FEMA's application template. The optional "C-UAS Application-IJ-budget-Imp plan" workbook on the opportunity page holds the investment justification, budget, and implementation plan your SAA will score.
3. Tie your project to an event. Identify any NSSE or SEAR 1 or 2 event in your region between 2027 and 2029, including torch relay segments, with name, date, and city.
4. Lock in training. Register personnel with the NCUTC now, and decide which agency will be the designated operating agency for any RF or mitigation system.
5. Plan for six months. A schedule that procures, installs, trains, and goes operational within six months earns full timely implementation points. Line up a compliant purchasing vehicle early.

For a deeper look at application strategy, read our recap of the webinar we hosted with Juvare: Winning the Next $250M+: Key Takeaways from the AirSight & Juvare FEMA Phase 2 Playbook.

Where AirGuard fits

FEMA's scoring rewards integration over isolated sensors. AirGuard is AirSight's open-architecture, hardware-agnostic platform, built to bring multiple sensor types into one operating picture. Here is how that maps to the FY 2027 criteria:

• A complete DTI chain. AirGuard brings radar, RF, and camera inputs together to detect, track, and identify drones and locate pilots, the workflow described in our detection and tracking guide.
• Radar first, without starting over. Because AirGuard is hardware-agnostic, agencies can add the radar DHS is prioritizing alongside sensors they already own. That supports the expansion and sustainment points available to FY 2026 recipients.
• The software and data-sharing layer. The wide-area software category and the DHS data-sharing condition both depend on a platform that can share detection data with partner agencies. Confirm the specific data-sharing methods with us during scoping.
• Operator readiness. AirSight supports role-based training and exercise planning that agencies can map to their training plan.
• A compliant path to purchase. Through our partnership with Strategic Communications, agencies can acquire AirGuard through the JPS TRUST program and the NASPO ValuePoint cooperative, which Security Today reported satisfies the federal procurement standards FEMA grants require. As a certified Woman- and Minority-Owned Small Business, Strategic Communications can also help agencies meet small-business participation benchmarks in grant applications.

Agencies pursuing mitigation points still need an authorized mobile system on the federal lists, operated by an accredited agency. AirGuard provides the detection and identification picture that supports a credible threat determination before any action is taken.

Talk to us before your SAA deadline

The federal deadline is November 16, and SAA deadlines will come sooner. If you are scoping a FY 2027 project, our team can help you map sensors, coverage, and a six-month implementation schedule to FEMA's scoring criteria. Contact us at sales@airsight.com.

Sources: FY 2027 C-UAS Grant Program NOFO and application materials (FEMA, October 16, 2026); FEMA C-UAS Grant Program page; Grants.gov listing DHS-27-GPD-161-00-99.