Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Grant Program

The C-UAS Grant Program will provide funding over two Fiscal Years (FY 2026 and FY 2027) for initiatives that combat the unlawful use of unmanned aircraft systems that threaten the safety and security of Georgians and visitors to our state. This program is funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). For Fiscal Year 2026 funding was directly or indirectly made available to Georgia as a host for the FIFA World Cup 2026 events and the National Capital Region (NCR), which serves as the host of the national America 250 events. 

For Fiscal Year 2027 Funds will be distributed with a focus on building national detection and response capacity across Georgia.  The C-UAS Grant Program funds, is eligible to governments and their subrecipients may purchase unmanned aircraft system (UAS) Detection, Identifying, Monitoring, Tracking, and Mitigation (DIMT-M) technologies to support public safety officials in the protection of the public and critical infrastructure from nefarious or unlawful use of UAS. The operation of certain detection and all mitigation technologies will be limited to accredited law enforcement and correctional agencies that meet the training, certification, accreditation, and authorized technology requirements of 6 C.F.R. 124 described in this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

DHS strongly encourages awardees to use this grant to procure active radar or passive radar capabilities with a mission-appropriate use case and a basic siting, coverage, and integration concept. 

  • Radar provides a critical non-cooperative detection capability. Unlike Radio Frequency (RF) detection systems, which generally depend on the presence of command-and-control signals, Remote ID, or other emissions.
  • Radar can detect and track UAS based on their physical presence. This is essential for identifying UAS that are autonomous, pre-programmed, modified to limit emissions, operating without Remote ID, or otherwise not emitting RF signals. 
  • Radar also strengthens a layered C-UAS architecture by providing track continuity, cueing Electro-Optical (EO)/Infrared (IR) sensors, supporting operator assessment, and improving the ability of public safety entities to maintain low-altitude air domain awareness during NSSE, SEAR, critical infrastructure, and other high-risk events.

Key Dates

The application period will open by October 20, 2026.  All applications for this grant must be received by the deadline, November 3, 2026, to be considered.

NOTE: Applications will only be accepted on-line via the Georgia EM Grants Manager at ga.emgrants.com.