AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has become the first law enforcement agency in the United States to deploy Airborne Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ACUS), a state-of-the-art technology mounted on helicopters to detect and respond to potentially threatening drones. This advancement enhances DPS’s ability to protect personnel and the public during high-risk missions, according to a press release from the department.
“As drone use continues to evolve and expand across the country, so does the potential for these devices to be misused in ways that threaten public safety and law enforcement operations,” said Stacy Holland, Chief Pilot of DPS’s Aircraft Operations Division. The ACUS technology, operational since August, is installed on one DPS helicopter and provides real-time drone detection and geolocation data to pilots and dispatch teams. DPS Tactical Flight Officers have undergone specialized training to operate the system, which is intended for detection and situational awareness rather than direct enforcement actions.