The United States Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have announced two new test sites for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). The sites, which will be located in The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Indiana Economic Development Corporation, are the first new UAS testing grounds for several years.
The UAS Test Site programme supports development, testing and evaluation of public and civil unmanned aircraft and related technologies and helps advance the safe integration of drones into the National Airspace System. In August 2025, the new beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) rule was proposed to significantly expand the use-case for drone technologies.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the new test sites will help gather critical data and test new systems. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford added that the sites would help assess emerging technologies to modernise methods for cargo delivery, BVLOS flights and multiple drone operations while informing safety and security.
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Indiana Economic Development Corporation test sites will become the eighth and ninth test sites in the US. The first seven UAS Test Site locations are:
- Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration, AK
- Northern Plains UAS Test Site, ND
- New Mexico State University UAS Test Site, NM
- State of Nevada UAS Test Site, NV
- New York UAS Test Site, NY
- Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Autonomy Research Institute, TX
- Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership, VA
For more information
UAS test site programme at the FAA
Image: FAA