INDIANA – In a landmark decision for the state’s burgeoning tech and defense sectors, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has officially designated Indiana as one of the nation’s newest Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Test Sites.
The announcement, made Thursday, January 8, 2026, places Indiana at the forefront of the “next aviation revolution.” Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), who spearheaded the effort alongside the entire Hoosier congressional delegation, emphasized that the state is uniquely qualified to lead this charge.
“Reestablishing American leadership in drones is critical to our national security,” Senator Young stated. “Today’s announcement affirms what we’ve long known—our state is uniquely positioned to help lead the way.”
The FAA selection process was highly competitive, but Indiana’s existing “defense corridor” provided a winning edge. Key assets highlighted in the state’s bid include:
- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane: One of the Navy’s largest high-tech employers, specializing in electronic warfare and sensor technology.
- Camp Atterbury & Muscatatuck Urban Training Center: These facilities offer restricted airspace and complex “urban” environments essential for testing drone swarms and counter-UAS (anti-drone) technologies.
- Purdue University: Home to the nation’s first university-owned airport and world-class aerospace research programs.
The designation is more than just a title; it is expected to act as a magnet for private investment and high-paying research jobs. By becoming a test site, Indiana can now facilitate:
- BVLOS Testing: Research into “Beyond Visual Line of Sight” operations, which is the “holy grail” for commercial drone delivery and long-range infrastructure inspection.
- Airspace Integration: Testing how drones can safely share the sky with manned aircraft.
- Manufacturing Growth: Moving from research and development to full-scale manufacturing of “American-made” drones to reduce reliance on foreign technology.
Indiana and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma were the only two sites selected in this round, becoming the eighth and ninth official test sites in the United States. They join an elite group of locations in Alaska, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Virginia.
Governor Mike Braun recently signed an executive order establishing the Indiana Initiative for Drone Dominance Task Force, which will now work in tandem with the FAA designation to create a “cross-sector aerial test corridor” linking the state’s major military and academic hubs.
“This sort of work is high-tech and precise,” Young added. “But not so high-tech that regular Hoosiers who are high school graduates with a certificate from a community college couldn’t land these jobs.”
The designation is expected to act as a magnet for private investment and high-paying jobs. Senator Young noted that while the work is high-tech, it creates opportunities for all Hoosiers, from PhD researchers to community college graduates with technical certificates.
The site will focus on three primary goals:
- BVLOS Testing: Research into “Beyond Visual Line of Sight” operations—the key to commercial drone delivery and long-range infrastructure inspection.
- Airspace Security: Developing infrastructure to detect and neutralize unauthorized drones.
- Manufacturing Growth: Scaling Indiana’s advanced manufacturing to produce “American-made” drones, reducing reliance on foreign-made technology like that from China.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IEDC) and the Applied Research Institute (ARI) will play central roles in managing the site. For local businesses and startups, this designation opens new doors:
- Aerial Test Corridor: A “cross-sector” corridor is being established to connect major research sites, allowing private companies to test systems in real-world conditions.
- Task Force Integration: Governor Mike Braun’s Indiana Initiative for Drone Dominance Task Force is currently drafting a strategic plan (due by July 31, 2026) to help small firms and emerging startups join the state’s drone supply chain.
- Certification Pathways: For individuals looking to join the industry, Indiana continues to expand Part 107 drone pilot training through networks like Dronegenuity and local community colleges.
It is estimated to take approximately six months to fully establish the new site’s boundaries, which will encompass a wide swath of territory stretching from Purdue University in the north down through southern Indiana.
