The FAA will conduct drone-detection testing near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, from June 16-27. 

The FAA’s Center of Excellence for UAS Research (ASSURE), in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Doña Ana County International Jetport, will conduct the testing. State and local first responders will also participate.  

This is the third in a series of off-airport tests the FAA has planned. The agency conducted the first test in Alaska and then near Cape May, New Jersey. The FAA selected the New Mexico location for its hot and arid climate, which supports the testing objectives. Additional testing is scheduled in North Dakota and Mississippi later this year.  

The FAA will operate several large drones and about 100 commercial off-the-shelf drones during the two-week period. Testing will take place over the desert and near the old Rio Grande Speedway during the daytime on weekdays only. The public should not fly recreational drones near this area during the testing period.

The agency has been testing drone-detection technologies at airports over the last few years and is expanding testing to off-airport locations. These tests will help determine the effectiveness of these technologies and whether they might interfere with FAA or aircraft navigation systems.   

The FAA will provide b-roll from the testing in New Mexico the week of June 23.  

Additional Background 

The FAA receives more than 100 drone-sighting reports near airports each month, and we want to send a clear message that operating drones around airplanes, helicopters, and airports is dangerous and illegal.  

On March 16, 2023, the FAA chartered the UAS Detection and Mitigation Systems Aviation Rulemaking Committee to advise the agency on safely integrating drone detection and mitigation systems. The ARC made 46 recommendations on ensuring systems do not interfere with the safe and efficient operation of the National Airspace System. We have incorporated many of the recommendations into our work to safely integrate them.