Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2026

This bill mandates the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator to establish a pilot program for small, nonlethal deescalation unmanned aircraft. The program's primary objective is to review the potential use of these drones by Federal, State, local, or Tribal law enforcement agencies when responding to active shooter events. Key components of the pilot program include reviewing and validating nonlethal weapons, developing training and operational protocols for law enforcement, and assessing the efficacy of these drones in indoor active shooter scenarios, particularly regarding the safety benefits of increasing engagement distance.

Upon the pilot program's conclusion, the Administrator must submit a report to Congress detailing the results and outlining a process for law enforcement to seek permission to operate such aircraft. Subsequently, the FAA is required to initiate rulemaking to create a formal approval process for law enforcement to use nonlethal deescalation unmanned aircraft during active shooter events, and for manufacturers to operate them for testing. A crucial provision stipulates that any nonlethal deescalation unmanned aircraft used under this pilot program must be manufactured in the United States.