Feds pick Indiana as one of two new National Drone Test Sites

The move is being celebrated by Indiana's Congressional delegation, which pushed for designation, citing state's manufacturing base and military testing infrastructure

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The Trump Administration has selected Indiana as one of two new national drone test sites, marking what state officials describe as a significant step in expanding domestic drone development and manufacturing.

The Federal Aviation Administration designation came after Indiana's entire congressional delegation- both U.S. Senators and all nine House members- signed a letter in December making the case for why the state should be chosen. The joint application was submitted by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the Applied Research Institute.

"This is a major win for Indiana and for America," Congresswoman Erin Houchin said in a statement. The Republican, who represents Southern Indiana, said the test site would create jobs and investment while helping the U.S. maintain its position in drone innovation.

The move aligns with two executive orders President Trump issued focused on drone technology: "Unleashing American Drone Dominance" and "Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty." The orders signal a push to expand domestic drone testing, development, and manufacturing as an alternative to foreign-made systems.

Indiana's pitch emphasized its manufacturing heritage and existing infrastructure. The delegation's letter highlighted Purdue University's assets, including the first university-owned airport in the country and what it described as the world's largest indoor motion capture facility. The university's faculty has been working on challenges related to integrating drones into the national airspace.

The state also pointed to its military testing infrastructure. Camp Atterbury hosts the Technology Readiness and Experimentation initiative, which in August 2025 demonstrated technology that neutralized a 49-drone swarm with a single electromagnetic pulse. The Indiana National Guard operates testing facilities at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, and Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane has been developing counter-drone capabilities.

Governor Mike Braun signed an executive order in October creating a task force to coordinate drone development across industry, academia, military, and public safety sectors. The delegation's letter emphasized that the task force would help implement lessons learned from operating the FAA test site.

"Drones are no longer just emerging technology- they're now essential for national security, agriculture, public safety, and more," Houchin said. "We must ensure these systems are developed and built in the United States, not overseas."

The announcement didn't specify which other state received a designation or provide a timeline for when testing operations might begin.

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