Pentagon’s first demo of small counter-drone tech set for spring January 8 Spc. Adam Wilhelmuses the Drone Defender V2 to disable a drone during training at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, on Aug. 19, 2020. (Sgt. Sirrina Martinez/U.S. Army) WASHINGTON The first opportunity for industry to demonstrate technology for the Pentagon’s enduring counter-drone capability will take place in April, according to the two-star general in charge of the joint effort. The Defense Department is developing a counter-small unmanned aircraft system capability for use domestically, in host nations and in conflict. The Pentagon established the Army-led Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office, or JCO, and approved a set of requirements to help counter small drones in September 2020, which laid a path for how industry can develop technology to plug into a single command-and-control system.