HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Drones are no longer just simple cameras in the sky. From commercial logistics and agricultural mapping to tactical reconnaissance and strike operations, unmanned aerial systems are reshaping everyday life and modern battlefields. To help units navigate this fast-changing landscape, engineers at Hill AFB have a research and training program that can build virtually any type of drone a customer requires that is fully compliant with strict defense standards.
Operating out of the 309th Software Engineering Group’s "Launch Pad," the Black Knights team delivers custom, compliant drones for the cost of components and parts along with flight training and certification for its customers.
For military customers, strict Department of War regulations require "Blue-listed" technology—drones and components vetted as cyber-secure, American-made, and compliant with National Defense Authorization Act supply chain rules. Sourcing off-the-shelf defense drones that meet these standards can easily cost upwards of $20,000 per unit, according to Steven Turner, 309th Software Engineering Group.
The team guides customers through every step of the building process.
Engineers assist clients in selecting compliant, Blue-registered components from domestic suppliers for frames and flight controls. Turner said by pairing vetted parts with open-source software customized in-house, the Launch Pad can deliver a fully tailored, American-made aircraft for roughly $1,000 to $2,000 in raw parts.
The group’s adaptability covers a vast operational spectrum:
- Custom builds: Quadcopters, micro-drones, VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) fixed-wing aircraft, and heavy-lift platforms engineered to carry 10 to 100 pounds.
- Software and autonomy: Developing in-house digital simulation environments, customized flight algorithms, and proprietary autonomous swarming software to coordinate 10 to 20 drones at once.
- Specialized missions: Rapidly modifying hardware for unique needs, such as designing reusable, high-altitude calibration drones for the 520th Software Engineering Group to replace single-use, $100,000 radar-testing balloons.
Turner said the Launch Pad’s services extend beyond design, 3D-printing and assembly. To ensure units can legally and safely fly their custom builds, the group provides complete end-to-end pilot training for FAA Part 107 commercial pilot credentials and military small UAS regulations via the government's sUAS MAN portal.
Whether a unit needs expendable "red-team" drones to test perimeter defenses or complex multi-vehicle swarms, the Launch Pad delivers complete, budget-conscious solutions built for the modern sky.
For project inquiries, custom drone consultations, or training enrollment, contact Steven Turner at steven.turner.21@us.af.mil.