United States Designates Two New Drone and UAS Test Sites After Nearly a Decade Without Expansions
9 Jan 2026
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, along with FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, announced the designation of two new official test sites for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), located on the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma and at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. These designations represent the first additions to the federal UAS Test Sites program in nearly ten years.
The new sites become the eighth and ninth test ranges in the country and will primarily support the development, evaluation, and safe integration of civilian and public drones within the National Airspace System (NAS). The focus will be on advanced operations such as beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight, autonomous operations, advanced air mobility, and new cargo delivery models.
The announcement comes amid a strong regulatory push, following the Department of Transportation’s submission of a proposed BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) regulation aimed at significantly expanding commercial drone operations. According to authorities, these sites will allow for the collection of critical data to accelerate technological innovation while maintaining air safety standards.
The FAA emphasized that the test ranges will be key to modernizing delivery methods, improving logistics operations, and facilitating the safe commercialization of UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) technologies. At the policy level, the initiative aligns with the presidential executive order aimed at strengthening U.S. leadership in drones, fostering highly skilled employment, and reducing dependence on foreign technology.
The new sites also seek to generate social impact, especially in tribal territories, where the use of drones could facilitate the transport of medical supplies and essential services to remote areas. With these additions, the United States expands its testing infrastructure to consolidate the full integration of UAS and lay the foundation for the future of advanced aviation.
Source and Credits to FAA
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