FAA awards $12 million for drone research at its nine test sites
The FAA's list names 19 projects from 14 organizations, from General Atomics and Skydweller to DroneUp and Oklahoma State. Most of the work is on detect and avoid, long-range links, and drone traffic management.
By Joel Kelly
Decision brief
Nothing changes for how you fly today. These are research grants, not rules. The work they fund, on avoiding other aircraft and sharing airspace data, is the groundwork for routine beyond visual line of sight flying. The rule that would allow that, Part 108, is still under White House review.
- Funding
- $12 million
- Projects
- 19
- Test sites
- 9
UAS Broad Agency Announcement Program
14 organizations on the FAA's list
FAA-designated UAS test sites
The awards
Research money routed through the FAA's test sites.
The FAA announced on October 5 that it awarded $12 million for drone research and testing projects. The money comes through the UAS Broad Agency Announcement Program, which funds companies working with the FAA's designated UAS test sites. The agency tied the awards to the Unleashing American Drone Dominance executive order.
The FAA's release says 19 companies. Its list has 19 projects, and some organizations hold more than one. ANRA Technologies has four, on air taxi and vertiport links, a common altitude reference, linking drone traffic systems with airport air traffic systems, and AI tools to identify drone types. SPS Aerial Remote Sensing has three, and the other awards go to one project each.
The work
Detect and avoid, long-range links, and traffic management.
Several projects deal with seeing and avoiding other aircraft. General Atomics is working on ground systems for it, Skydweller on onboard systems for large drones, and OneRadio on passive radar. Censys Technologies is testing satellite links for long-range flights. Lighthouse Avionics is working on surveillance for long-range routes, and Devorto on a long-range cargo service. DroneUp is building a secure way to verify a drone's identity and its approval to fly. Aerial Vantage is working on reserved airspace for drones in cities, and ResilienX on mission coordination software. NAVMAR, Frequentis USA, and Oklahoma State University's Aero Aware project round out the list.
What it means
Groundwork for BVLOS while Part 108 waits.
"The research supported through this program will give us better data, help us identify and understand operational challenges, and inform how we safely integrate these aircraft into the National Airspace System," FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in the release. The nine test sites are in Alaska, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma, and Indiana. The Part 108 beyond visual line of sight final rule has been under review at the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs since July 10 and was still listed as Pending Review on October 5.
Source file
Verify the reporting
Continue this beat
More policy reporting
Rule watch · September 2, 2026
Part 108 has been at the White House review desk since July 10, past the FAA's own July target
Rule watch · August 29, 2026
FAA opens BEYOND Phase 2 to add up to eight government drone-testing partners
Rule watch · September 29, 2026