FAA Adds Two New UAS Test Sites, Expanding National Network for First Time Since 2016

The locations of the nine UAS test sites.

The FAA has announced the designation of two new Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Sites, located within the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and operated by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. These are the first additions to the national UAS test site network since 2016, expanding the program to a total of nine operational sites and supporting the testing of advanced UAS hardware and aircraft supplies essential to future drone operations.

According to FAA officials, the expansion supports the safe and efficient integration of drones into the National Airspace System (NAS) by addressing several key technical priorities:

Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS): The new sites will support data collection for the FAA’s proposed BVLOS rule introduced in August 2025, using controlled environments to validate long-range drone operations and the performance of onboard hardware, sensors, and communications equipment.

Operational Scaling: Testing will focus on multi-drone operations and higher levels of automation, allowing the FAA to evaluate how multiple aircraft can safely operate in shared airspace while relying on standardized hardware configurations and certified aircraft supplies.

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM): The sites will act as testbeds for cargo delivery and urban air mobility concepts, supporting the evaluation of emerging aircraft designs, propulsion systems, and specialized aircraft supplies needed for non-traditional aviation missions.

Security and Navigation: Researchers will assess safety protocols, navigation hardware, and supporting aircraft supplies that enable drones to operate alongside crewed aircraft without reducing overall airspace capacity.

The original UAS Test Site locations include:

• Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration

• Northern Plains UAS Test Site (North Dakota)

• New Mexico State University UAS Test Site

• Nevada UAS Test Site

• New York UAS Test Site

• Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi Autonomy Research Institute

• Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (Virginia)

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Data gathered across all nine test sites will inform future FAA rulemaking and support the development of Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) systems.