The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has entered into an agreement enabling it to use CACI International’s technology to detect unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones in the vicinity of airports, under its UAS Pathfinder programme.

The agency has expanded the programme, which was announced last May, in order to enhance safety near busy airfields.

FAA deputy administrator Mike Whitaker stated before the House Aviation Subcommittee that, under the deal, they will assess the safety and security capabilities of CACI’s product within a five-mile radius of airports.

FAA deputy administrator Mike Whitaker said: "Safety is always the FAA’s top priority, and we are concerned about the increasing number of instances where pilots have reported seeing unmanned aircraft flying nearby."

"This CACI-built solution will help ensure a safe, shared airspace while supporting responsible UAS users’ right to operate their aircraft.quot;

"We are looking forward to working with CACI and our interagency partners to identify and evaluate new technologies that could enhance safety for all users of the nation’s airspace."

CACI US operations president and COO John Mengucci said: "CACI is proud to partner in the FAA’s Pathfinder cooperative research and development agreement to address the escalating unmanned aircraft systems safety challenges that airports are facing nationwide.

"The agreement provides a proven way to passively detect, identify, and track UAS, or aerial drones, and their ground-based operators, in order to protect airspace from inadvertent or unlawful misuse of drones near US airports.

"This CACI-built solution will help ensure a safe, shared airspace while supporting responsible UAS users’ right to operate their aircraft."

FAA selected CACI’s prototype sensor detection system to evaluate UAS operations at airports.

Efficiency of the technology will be examined by the FAA and its federal government partners to ensure it does not interfere with normal safety and security of airport operations.

Recently, the FAA recommended a civil penalty of $1.9m against Chicago-based commercial drone operator SkyPan International.