Grants for police, sheriff, and fire drone programs.
Five federal programs fund drone purchases for public safety agencies, and two of them named drones a priority this year. Here is what each pays for, who applies, and where the cycle stands.
| Program | Administered by | Who applies | What it funds for drones | Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) | Bureau of Justice Assistance, through state administering agencies | Cities and counties directly; smaller agencies through the state | Technology and equipment for law enforcement; the FY2026 NDAA added approved counter-UAS technology | Annual formula program |
| COPS Office grants | Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, DOJ | Law enforcement agencies | $25 million in 2026 with drones named a funding priority | Competitive, announced 2026 |
| Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP and UASI) | FEMA and DHS, through state homeland security offices | States and designated urban areas; local agencies as sub-recipients | Equipment to prevent and respond to terrorism, including aircraft for situational awareness | Annual |
| Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) | FEMA | Fire departments, non-affiliated EMS, state fire academies | Drone and UAS equipment is eligible | FY2025 round of $648 million closed June 22, 2026; next round annual |
| Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Grant | FEMA | State, local, tribal, and territorial governments | Detection, tracking, and response to unauthorized drones; $500 million over FY2026 and FY2027 | FY2026 host states and National Capital Region; FY2027 all states |
Matching the program to the purchase
- A first aircraft for a small department: Byrne JAG through your state, or a COPS Office application if you can make the competitive case.
- A fire department's first aircraft: AFG, with the application tied to life-safety outcomes and to how the aircraft fits existing operations.
- A regional or county capability: SHSP through the state homeland security office, where situational awareness for planned events and disasters is the argument.
- Detecting drones rather than flying them: the FEMA Counter-UAS grant. Note that it funds detection and response, not a patrol fleet.
What people get wrong
They write the application around the aircraft. Reviewers fund outcomes: minutes to first view of a scene, search area covered per hour, officer exposure avoided at a hazmat perimeter. Put the outcome in the first sentence, the aircraft in the budget line, and the compliance statement in the attachments. The second mistake is assuming last year's DJI quote still works. Federal funds cannot buy covered aircraft since December 22, 2025; a compliant, published price is the line that survives review.
The budget line
A Corvin complete kit is $2,999, shipping now, built in Tulsa, Oklahoma, without Section 889 covered components. A Spector dock-capable bundle is published at $34,999, in development with reservations open. EnCor provides a written component-origin statement and a line-item quote for any application. To find the open cycle for your agency and prepare the application, use Quillify.
Questions buyers ask
Which grant is the usual first stop for a small police department?
Byrne JAG, because it is formula-based, flows through the state administering agency, and lists technology and equipment as an allowable purpose. The COPS Office grants are competitive and named drones a priority in 2026.
Can a fire department fund a drone through FEMA?
Yes. Drone and UAS equipment is eligible under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The FY2025 round of $648 million closed on June 22, 2026; the next round follows the annual cycle.
What is the new FEMA Counter-UAS grant?
A $500 million program over fiscal years 2026 and 2027 for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to detect, track, and respond to unauthorized drones. FY2026 prioritizes the World Cup host states and the National Capital Region; FY2027 opens to all 56 states and territories.
Is there a federal buyback for Chinese drones?
A bill, the American Drone Manufacturing Dominance Act of 2026, proposes $1.5 billion including a buyback and replacement grants. It is proposed, not law. Plan on the programs that exist today and watch this one.
Do grant aircraft have to be NDAA-compliant?
Yes in practice. Federal funds cannot buy covered aircraft since December 22, 2025. EnCor provides a written component-origin statement for the application.
What does a grant-sized starting program cost?
A Corvin complete kit is $2,999; two kits with four spare batteries at $250 come to $6,998. A dock-based Spector bundle is published at $34,999 and is in development with reservations open.
- Law Enforcement Drone Association, "New $25M COPS Grant Funding for Police Drones", 2026-07-21.
- Police1, "How to find grants to fund police drone programs", accessed 2026-09-05.
- Congressional Research Service, report IN12661 on law enforcement and counter-UAS authority (FY2026 NDAA and Byrne JAG), accessed 2026-09-05.
- Law Enforcement Drone Association, "$648M FEMA Fire Grants Open Now, Drones Qualify", 2026-06-17.
- Grants.gov, FY2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grants opportunity listing, accessed 2026-09-05.
- ExecutiveGov, "DHS Opens Applications for Counter-Drone Grant Program", accessed 2026-09-05.
- UAS Vision, "Congressman Pat Harrigan Introduces the American Drone Manufacturing Act", 2026-06-29.
Quick reference
- Byrne JAG: formula, via the state, equipment allowed
- COPS Office: $25M, drones a 2026 priority
- HSGP (SHSP, UASI): via state homeland security office
- AFG: fire departments, drones eligible, annual
- FEMA C-UAS: $500M FY26 and FY27, detection and response
- All require compliant aircraft
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