(Idaho National Laboratory Press Release, April 28, 2026)
From the skies over Ukraine to the southern U.S. border, drones are transforming the nature of global conflict and domestic security. Unauthorized unmanned aerial systems, and efforts to detect, track, identify and mitigate them, shape homeland security operations daily.
Drone-delivered kinetic attacks perfected in war zones are increasingly used to threaten critical infrastructure and mass gatherings at special events. At U.S. borders, transnational criminal organizations use UAS to transport illegal items and monitor law enforcement activities.
During the last six months of 2024, more than 27,000 drones were detected within 500 meters of the U.S. southern border, as reported in a recent Senate hearing on law enforcement, drone use and public safety. Further, interference from UAS operations – both intentional and unintentional – impacts safety and efficiency at airports.
A strategic alliance with national impact
A new partnership aims to ensure America is leading in UAS/counter-UAS capabilities even as the technology and corresponding threats rapidly evolve. In November, West Virginia University, Summit Point Training Facility and the Idaho National Laboratory signed a memorandum of understanding to create a collaborative framework uniting academia, national laboratory expertise and industry.
This partnership will establish a hub to develop, test and train UAS and counter-UAS technologies for national security.
The new collaboration will drive solutions focused on:
- Early-phase UAS/counter-UAS system evaluations
- High-fidelity data for smarter algorithms
- Advanced sensor integration for real-time threat detection
- Controlled, multi-environment testing to validate performance
- Ensuring interoperability and readiness across systems
- Border security applications
- Air-based technology testing for layered defense
A national-scale effort
Together, WVU, SPTF and INL align the UAS/counter-UAS technology life cycle from early discovery at WVU, to applied science, engineering and validation at INL, to operational evaluation and industry engagement at SPTF.
Oversight and rigor: INL’s National and Homeland Security Testing Facilities, managed by Battelle Energy Alliance, support a wide variety of research, analysis, testing and validation opportunities for defense, federal and industrial collaborators.
“INL’s collective unmanned aerial system capabilities encompass a diverse range of UAS platforms with varying payload capacities,” said Bob Schumitz, director of INL’s Defense Systems Division. “The 8,000 square miles of airspace provide an opportunity to conduct comprehensive and integrated research, development, testing and evaluation of solutions.”
INL’s co-located test beds allow exploration of commercial and military drone platform integration with advanced sensors for radiation detection, hyperspectral imaging and encrypted communications. The site supports simulating congested and contested communications environments, and testing transmission, distribution and cybersecurity systems with the safety methods, rigor, data integrity controls and mission-risk focus of a national lab.
R1 Academic Research: As an R1 research institute — the highest classification of research activity in higher education — WVU’s department of mechanical and aerospace engineering brings nearly two decades of expertise in UAS research to the collaboration. Across five specialized groups focused on applied aerodynamics, flight control, flight safety, autonomous navigation and cooperative robotics, the department is shaping the autonomy science narrative and standards participation for the field.
Operations Readiness: Just over an hour from Washington, D.C., SPTF brings a unique blend of proximity to the capital region, infrastructure and operational readiness to the partnership. SPTF’s secure, adaptable range, unrestricted airspace, autonomous testing systems and connection to industry for quick solutions make it a go-to authority for government-sponsored live flight operations for homeland security applications.
“SPTF doesn’t require years of planning,” said National Security Programs Director Michael Norman. “It just requires a green light.”
The facility supports every phase of research, development, testing and evaluation. SPTF ensures swift technology transfer and intellectual property development from lab to field, accelerating solutions for the nation’s most pressing security challenges.
The partnership combines a DOE national laboratory’s test infrastructure, an RI research university’s autonomy expertise and a D.C.-proximate operational range to accelerate field-ready UAS and counter-UAS solutions.
Securing the skies
The partnership is positioned to deliver innovation in response to policy directives, technological advancement and imminent historic events. Recent federal executive orders related to drone technology advancement, airspace sovereignty and state and local preparedness underscore the urgency for states and interagency partners to strengthen UAS and counter-UAS capabilities. State, local, tribal and territorial governments are on the front lines of protecting critical infrastructure and must be equipped with tools to monitor and secure their airspace against evolving threats.
The Department of Homeland Security’s newly established Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems is supporting investment at all levels with industry engagement, expanded authorities for enforcement partners and rapid grant deployment to develop capabilities.
This imperative coincides with a historic wave of innovation driven by artificial intelligence, which is transforming both technology and regulatory frameworks, enabling proactive security measures while introducing new creative risks.
Looking ahead, major national events, including the FIFA World Cup, America’s 250th anniversary and the 2028 Olympics, will demand cutting-edge solutions to ensure safety and resilience. Investing in drone research and development today positions the United States to meet these challenges, securing its skies and its future.
“Outside of defense applications, which are primarily focused on overseas threats, the partnership between WVU, SPTF and INL, combined with government investment, is the most significant coordination of UAS/C-UAS efforts in support of domestic national security we’ve ever seen, said INL’s Chief Homeland Security Advisor Ollie Gagnon. “This is a great opportunity to deliver impact at an important and exciting time for our country.”
About Summit Point Training Facility | Summit Solutions Group
Summit Point Training Facility and its expeditionary division Summit Solutions Group (SSG) are a premier training, testing, and operational support platform serving government and commercial partners. Located an hour outside of Washington D.C., SPTF provides a uniquely scalable environment for tactical training, emergency response, mobility and driver training, and applied technology evaluation. With extensive ranges, specialized training venues, and diverse terrain, SPTF/SSG delivers integrated solutions that combine mission-focused expertise, operational realism, and responsive support for complex homeland security, defense, and public safety requirements.
About West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public land-grant research university located in Morgantown, West Virginia. Founded in 1867, it offers over 350 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across 13 colleges and schools.
About Idaho National Laboratory
Battelle Energy Alliance manages INL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. INL is the nation’s center for nuclear energy research and development, and also performs research in each of DOE’s strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and the environment. For more information, visit www.inl.gov. Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
