Michigan Facility Designated as DOW National Test Site for Drones

Why It Matters

The designation boosts U.S. defense innovation, accelerates joint readiness, and drives economic growth in Michigan’s aerospace sector.

Key Takeaways

• NADWC becomes DoD’s premier UAS test range.
• 200,000 acres and 17,000 sq mi airspace available.
• Supports live‑fire, swarm and counter‑UAS training.
• Expected to attract aerospace firms and high‑skill jobs.
• Enhances joint readiness for U.S. and allied forces.

Pulse Analysis

The Department of Defense’s recent designation of Michigan’s National All‑Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC) as a national test site for uncrewed aerial systems marks a pivotal upgrade to the nation’s drone training infrastructure. Spanning roughly 200,000 acres of maneuver space at Camp Grayling and backed by more than 17,000 square miles of dedicated military airspace at Alpena, the range offers an unparalleled blend of terrain diversity, electromagnetic‑spectrum access, and four‑season weather. This all‑domain environment enables realistic live‑fire, combined‑arms, and swarm exercises, positioning NADWC as the premier proving ground for both UAS and counter‑UAS technologies.

The designation dovetails with Michigan’s broader Advanced Air Mobility Initiative and recent autonomous‑drone competitions, reinforcing the state’s reputation as a hub for aerospace innovation. By providing permissive operating authorities and state‑of‑the‑art infrastructure, NADWC is expected to draw defense contractors, start‑ups, and research institutions seeking to test next‑generation drones at scale. The influx of high‑skill, well‑paying jobs will bolster local economies around Grayling, Alpena, and the surrounding communities, while showcasing Michigan‑manufactured components on a national stage. Policymakers view the site as a catalyst for sustained economic growth in the defense sector.

From a strategic perspective, the new test site accelerates joint readiness for the U.S. Army, National Guard, and allied forces. The ability to integrate uncrewed systems into live‑fire and multi‑domain operations under realistic conditions shortens the development cycle for emerging swarm tactics and counter‑UAS measures. As adversaries expand their own drone capabilities, having a domestic venue that can stress‑test systems across diverse environments becomes a force multiplier. Ultimately, NADWC’s expanded role supports the DoD’s push toward faster, more adaptable warfare solutions, ensuring that American warfighters maintain a technological edge on future battlefields.

Michigan facility designated as DOW national test site for drones

By Michael Kroll, Michigan National Guard · February 10, 2026

U.S. Army Specialist Elija Kirkland, 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment battery cannon crew member conducts drone operations during Exercise Northern Strike 24‑2 at Camp Grayling, Michigan, Aug. 8, 2024. Northern Strike 24‑2, one of the Department of Defense’s largest reserve component readiness exercises, is scheduled to take place at Michigan’s National All‑Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC) from August 3‑17, 2024. More than 6,300 participants from 32 states and territories and several international participants will converge at the NADWC. Northern Strike is the premier reserve component training event designed to build readiness with joint and partner forces in all domains of warfare. (Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Connor Taggart)

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan’s National All‑Domain Warfighting Center, or NADWC, was designated by the U.S. Department of War as a national range for uncrewed aerial systems training.

“Today’s designation of the NADWC as a national test site shows that Michigan can lead the future of aerospace and continues to play a key role in protecting our national defense,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Over the last few years, we held an autonomous drone competition, released a statewide Advanced Air Mobility Initiative and secured a new fighter mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Now, thanks to this new national test site, we are building on that momentum, becoming an even more attractive place for cutting‑edge defense and aerospace companies to invest in, create good‑paying, high‑skill local jobs and grow our economy. You can already see Michigan‑made products on roads around the world, and soon, we’ll be in the sky too.”

This designation cements the NADWC as the nation’s premier proving ground for advanced UAS and counter‑UAS, positioning Michigan at the forefront of America’s defense‑innovation economy. Selected by the U.S. Army and National Guard Bureau, NADWC offers an unmatched environment for drone development, testing and training, one that is squarely focused on the warfighter and on doing what is best for the force. By combining permissive operating authorities, cutting‑edge infrastructure and close ties to Michigan’s world‑class technology and manufacturing ecosystem, this designation amplifies our ability to train at speed and scale.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Gifford, assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, Michigan Army National Guard, prepares to launch a small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) at Ādaži Training Area, Latvia on June 8, 2025. Gifford oriented the aircraft to support pre‑contact reconnaissance during multinational training focused on tactical movement and battlefield visibility. (Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Bethany Rizor)

Anchored by nearly 200,000 acres of maneuver space at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and more than 17,000 square miles of special‑use military airspace at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, NADWC delivers a level of scale and realism few training environments can match. These Joint National Training Capability–certified sites feature diverse terrain, robust electromagnetic‑spectrum access and a true four‑season climate, allowing units to stress systems, tactics and formations in conditions that replicate multiple theaters of operation and prepare forces for the next fight.

As the largest joint training range east of the Mississippi River and home to the flagship Northern Strike Exercise, NADWC is purpose‑built to enhance readiness. Its all‑weather, all‑domain environment enables warfighters and allied partners to train together at full operational tempo, integrating uncrewed systems into live‑fire, combined‑arms and advanced swarm operations. The result is a more lethal, more prepared force, better equipped to succeed on the future battlefield.

“This designation is about staying focused on the warfighter and doing what’s best for the force,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “The NADWC gives us the scale, airspace and all‑domain environment we need to amplify our ability to train and prepare for the next fight. It allows our Soldiers, Airmen, joint partners and allies, to develop, test and employ uncrewed systems at operational tempo under realistic, all‑weather conditions. That kind of training directly translates to readiness and ensures our forces are positioned to succeed on the future battlefield. I want to thank Governor Whitmer and Michigan’s congressional delegation for their steadfast support in making this effort possible, which will ensure the men and women of the U.S. military and our allies will be prepared for any future conflict.”