The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has announced a USD 2 million appropriation from the United States federal government to expand drone testing and operations infrastructure at the University’s remote facilities in Fabens and Tornillo, Texas.
UTEP President Heather Wilson said the funding will help the university build infrastructure for research in both drone and counter-drone technology. UTEP will expand its uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) facilities in Fabens and the drone flight test range in Tornillo, adding new equipment including radar systems. The team will also hire staff and students to assist with teaching and research.
In May 2025, the UTEP Aerospace Center secured a Beyond Visual Line of Site (BVLOS) waiver granted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The waiver allows UTEP to conduct fully remote drone operations in a region that spans 87 square miles in west Texas. BVLOS waivers are held by approximately 12 other universities in the US.
For more information
University of Texas at El Paso
Image: UTEP Aerospace Center Executive Director Shery Welsh, Ph.D. (right) works with UTEP students in the Aerospace Center’s Uncrewed Aerial Systems Flight Space.
The 2026 Unmanned Airspace Global Counter-UAS Systems Directory is now available. The Guide is the world’s only comprehensive, continually updated directory of global C-UAS companies and systems. It itemises over 1,000 C-UAS products and services with performance details, company sales and partnerships arrangements. It is updated every month and broken down into niche sub-sectors (net-capture, missiles, intercept drones, detectors etc) to give C-UAS procurement and industry personnel a unique perspective of global C-UAS technical capabilities and market positions. It is available in word, PDF and excel formats and Unmanned Airspace readers are eligible for a range of discounts. For more information about the Directory please contact the editor Philip Butterworth-Hayes at philip@unmannedairspace.info.