New Point Defense Battle Lab Unveiled at Grand Forks Air Force Base

The facility will focus on defending against small drone threats through monthly exercises and innovation.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 8:40pm

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a swarm of small drones with neon cyan and magenta lights, representing the advanced military technology being developed to defend against such threats.The Point Defense Battle Lab will develop new technologies and tactics to protect against the growing threat of small drone swarms.Grand Forks Today

A new Point Defense Battle Lab has been unveiled at the Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. The lab, created out of a repurposed building, will allow the 319th Reconnaissance Wing to build drones, 3D print parts, and conduct monthly exercises to grow knowledge and capabilities needed to defend against small drone threats, which have become an increasing concern in recent years.

Why it matters

Small drone threats have become a growing security concern, with examples seen in conflicts like the war in Ukraine and actions by Iran. The new Point Defense Battle Lab aims to help the U.S. military stay ahead of these evolving threats through innovation and training.

The details

The Point Defense Battle Lab was created by repurposing a building from a local golf course. It will allow the 319th Reconnaissance Wing to build drones, 3D print parts, and conduct monthly exercises to develop new tactics and technologies to defend against small drone threats.

  • The Point Defense Battle Lab was unveiled in April 2026.

The players

Tom Swoyer

The founder of Grand Sky, a company involved in the creation of the Point Defense Battle Lab.

Kevin Cramer

A U.S. Senator whose office provided information about the new lab.

319th Reconnaissance Wing

The military unit that will be using the Point Defense Battle Lab to train and develop new capabilities.

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What they’re saying

“They've turned it into this 'battle lab' where they can build drones, they can 3-D print parts, they can do all manner of things.”

— Tom Swoyer, Founder, Grand Sky

“We have been seeing it for years in Ukraine (and) Iran has brought it back to the forefront even more aggressively.”

— Tom Swoyer, Founder, Grand Sky

What’s next

The Point Defense Battle Lab will begin conducting monthly exercises to test new tactics and technologies for defending against small drone threats.

The takeaway

The creation of the Point Defense Battle Lab at the Grand Forks Air Force Base highlights the growing importance of developing new capabilities to counter the evolving threat of small drones, which have become a security concern in recent years.