US Air Force Establishes Permanent C-sUAS Battle Lab at Grand Forks

The 319th Reconnaissance Wing opens new facility to develop tactics and technologies to defend against aerial threats.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 8:40am

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a swarm of small drones illuminated by neon cyan and magenta lights, conceptually representing the digital infrastructure and physical hardware needed to defend against aerial threats.The Air Force's new C-sUAS battle lab will develop the digital and physical capabilities needed to protect military installations from emerging aerial threats.Grand Forks Today

The US Air Force's 319th Reconnaissance Wing has opened a permanent facility for its Point Defense Battle Lab (PDBL) at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. The PDBL is tasked with developing tactics, techniques, and procedures to defend all stateside Air Force installations against aerial threats, including small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), while also evaluating existing counter-sUAS (C-sUAS) technologies.

Why it matters

The establishment of the PDBL at Grand Forks underscores the growing threat posed by sUAS and the Air Force's commitment to addressing this challenge. The facility's location near the 319th RW's existing RQ-4 Global Hawk mission and partnerships with the UAS industry and education sector are expected to enhance its capabilities.

The details

The PDBL was activated in October 2025, and since then has executed five exercises and evaluated several C-sUAS systems. The new permanent facility at Grand Forks will provide further resources and stability to the PDBL's mission, allowing the team to plan and conduct more extensive exercises to assess existing C-sUAS technologies.

  • The PDBL was activated in October 2025.
  • The 319th Reconnaissance Wing opened the PDBL's permanent facility on April 9, 2026.

The players

Brig. Gen. Micah Fesler

Air National Guard advisor to the commander, Air Combat Command.

319th Reconnaissance Wing

The US Air Force unit that opened the PDBL's permanent facility at Grand Forks Air Force Base.

Point Defense Battle Lab (PDBL)

The Air Force unit charged with developing tactics, techniques, and procedures to defend against aerial threats, including small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS).

184th Wing

The Kansas Air National Guard unit selected to support the PDBL program.

Grand Forks Air Force Base

The base selected to host the PDBL's permanent facility, in part due to the 319th RW's existing RQ-4 Global Hawk mission and partnerships with the UAS industry and education sector.

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What they’re saying

“The primary goal of the Air Combat Command's Battle lab is to develop the play book, the systems and the capabilities that will allow us to defend against s-UAS hostility.”

— Brig. Gen. Micah Fesler, Air National Guard advisor to the commander, Air Combat Command

What’s next

The PDBL plans to continue conducting exercises and evaluating additional C-sUAS technologies at its new permanent facility in Grand Forks.

The takeaway

The establishment of the PDBL's permanent home at Grand Forks underscores the growing threat of small unmanned aerial systems and the Air Force's commitment to developing comprehensive defenses against this emerging challenge to national security.