By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- • The Cobb County Police Department received a $10.67 million Department of Homeland Security grant to fund a counter-drone program tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- • The Cobb County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a nearly $9.7 million contract with Axon Enterprise to purchase drone detection, mitigation equipment, and first-responder drones.
- • Atlanta will host eight World Cup matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium between June 15 and July 15, with Cobb County hosting two international team base camps.
- • The grant, established under the SAFER SKIES Act signed into law in 2025, extends new authority to trained local personnel to intercept and neutralize unauthorized drone activity.
- • Cobb County’s Emergency Management Agency received an additional $1.7 million through the FIFA World Cup Grant Program, bringing total federal investment to more than $12 million.
MARIETTA, Ga. — The Cobb County Police Department has been awarded a $10.67 million grant from the Department of Homeland Security to build a comprehensive counter-drone program in advance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with commissioners unanimously approving a nearly $9.7 million equipment contract on June 9.
The grant funds a counter-unmanned aircraft system program designed to detect, track, identify, and neutralize unauthorized drone activity during the tournament. The Cobb County Board of Commissioners approved a contract with Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Axon Enterprise to procure the equipment, which includes drone detection hardware and expanded first-responder drone capabilities.
Approximately $8.3 million of the contract will go toward four DedroneTactical kits, along with related software and hardware for detecting and mitigating drone threats. The equipment includes fixed-site detection antennas, portable radio frequency receivers, infrared and electro-optical cameras, radar panels, and mitigation technologies, according to Lt. Justin Bullis, commander of the Cobb Police Homeland Security Unit.
An additional $1.4 million will fund six Skydio X10 drones and docking stations with full remote deployment capability as part of an expansion of the department’s existing “Drone as a First Responder” program. The drones are intended to provide real-time aerial video at World Cup-related venues and emergencies, similar to the role helicopters have historically served.
The grant covers all program costs — including equipment, training, maintenance, and licensing — over an initial five-year period with no required contribution from county funds. Ongoing costs beginning in fiscal year 2031 will be absorbed into the police department’s annual operating budget.
The authority for local agencies to take action against unauthorized drones is newly established under the SAFER SKIES Act, signed into law in 2025. Previously, local law enforcement could detect and identify drones but had limited legal authority to intervene. Under the new framework, trained officers operating under federal authority may take control of unauthorized drones and bring them to the ground safely. Cobb County officers are participating in a regional FBI-led counter-drone task force alongside the Atlanta Police Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Georgia State Patrol.
Cobb County is expected to see a significant influx of visitors during the tournament, as it will serve as host to two international team base camps — at the Atlanta United FC Training Grounds in Marietta and Fifth Third Stadium at Kennesaw State University — in addition to various fan engagement events. Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host five group stage matches, a Round of 32 match, a Round of 16 match, and a semifinal between June 15 and July 15. The Cobb County Emergency Management Agency separately received $1.7 million through the FIFA World Cup Grant Program to support broader public safety and emergency preparedness efforts, including staffing and equipment.