Government UAV Facilities

Building Drone Testing Ranges for Government Agencies
Government agencies continue to expand the use of UAV technology across research, public safety, infrastructure inspection, aviation, and operational programs.
As drone usage continues to grow, many organizations require engineered drone testing ranges capable of supporting controlled flight operations and scalable containment infrastructure.
Drone testing ranges for government agencies may require:

• Large-span drone netting systems
  
• Outdoor UAV containment structures
  
• Controlled flight environments
  
• Wind load engineered systems
  
• Long-term operational durability
  
• PE stamped engineering drawings
  
• Cable-supported containment layouts
  

Properly engineered drone testing ranges may help support:

• UAV pilot training
  
• Autonomous flight testing
  
• Public safety drone programs
  
• Infrastructure inspection training
  
• Research and development
  
• Operational flexibility
  

Midwest Netting Solutions designs engineered drone testing ranges and UAV containment systems intended to support scalable government drone operations nationwide.

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FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions:

Where are the Federal test sites and innovation centers?

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• UAS Test Site Program: The FAA partners with nine designated public test sites nationwide to safely advance civilian and public uncrewed technologies. The newest sites include the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. Other legacy test ranges are located in Alaska, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Virginia.
  
• The Range (MITRE): Located in Orange, Virginia, this 16-acre facility is designed for U.S. government sponsors and first responders to research, test, and evaluate small UAS (sUAS) and counter-UAS technologies.
  
• National Counter-UAS Training Center (NCUTC): Headquartered at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, this FBI-led center trains local, state, and federal law enforcement to detect, track, and disrupt unlawful drones.
  

What are the Federal agency operations?

• Department of Energy: The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) manages an authorized federal airspace covering over 8,100 square miles. It is outfitted with a runway, support shelters, and mobile control stations that handle over 40 types of uncrewed aircraft.
  
• NOAA: The Uncrewed Systems Operations Center—located at the Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland, Florida—directs hurricane research, marine observations, and emergency response operations.
  
• DOI & Forest Service: The Department of Interior (DOI) and the U.S. Forest Service manage fleets of uncrewed aircraft used to track wildfires, inspect remote infrastructure, and support land management across hundreds of millions of acres.
  

Where are the State and defense facilities?

• Ohio UAS Center: Operated by DriveOhio, this state-level hub in central Ohio leads the research, development, and operation of UAS technologies for state agencies and Departments of Transportation.
  
• DOD Blue UAS Facilities: The U.S. Department of Defense continually tests advanced autonomy at various military installations. Additionally, it maintains a roster of trusted, vetted drone models cleared for sensitive government use known as the Blue UAS list.
  
• Counter-UAS (C-UAS) Test Ranges: Sites like White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico serve as primary testing hubs for both the Department of Defense and the FAA to validate directed-energy technologies and protect national airspace.
  

Federal regulations strictly prohibit the unauthorized flight of drones over designated security-sensitive military bases, national landmarks, and critical infrastructure