Is there something out there?

The US FEDERAL AVIATION AUTHORTY’s (FAA) Center of Excellence for UAS Research (ASSURE), in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Doña Ana County International Jetport, is conducting drone detection tests near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, from June 16-27. State and local first responders are also participating in this third in a series of off-airport tests the FAA has planned. 

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 aircraft navigation systems. The FAA selected this New Mexico location for its hot and arid climate, which supports the testing objectives.

In this round of tests, 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 during the daytime on weekdays only, and the public is advised not to fly recreational drones near this area during the testing period. Additional testing is scheduled in North Dakota and Mississippi later this year.