Defense Alert: U.S. Air Force launches Falcon Peak to evaluate tech for defeating small drones
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According to information published by the U.S. Air Force from Eglin Air Force Base on September 3, 2025, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) have launched Falcon Peak, a large-scale counter-unmanned aerial system (c-UAS) experiment aimed at advancing base defense capabilities against small drone threats. Hosted by Eglin AFB and continuing through September 19, 2025, the exercise is among the most comprehensive c-UAS trials ever conducted on U.S. soil, testing a range of cutting-edge systems in a realistic, contested environment.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Illustrative image: Senior Airman Cheyanne Parsons, 8th Security Forces Squadron counter-small unmanned aerial system instructor, prepares to launch a drone during exercise Beverly Sentinel 25-3 at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, August 6, 2025. While not related to Falcon Peak, this image highlights U.S. Air Force c-UAS training efforts worldwide. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)
Falcon Peak is centered on simulating hostile drone incursions over U.S. military installations, with unmanned aerial systems launched daily from Santa Rosa Island between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. These simulated attacks allow U.S. forces to evaluate multi-layered defense systems under operationally realistic conditions. In support of air and range safety, the 96th Test Wing has established restricted maritime zones around the test range, with active advisories broadcast on VHF Channel 16 and HF 2182 kHz.
Speaking from Eglin AFB, exercise planners described Falcon Peak as a “critical milestone” in the Air Force’s drive to develop scalable base protection capabilities. In recent years, the threat posed by small commercial and improvised drones has escalated rapidly, with adversaries in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Africa employing drones for reconnaissance, targeting, and precision strikes. These threats now extend to the U.S. homeland, where bases face the risk of intrusion, surveillance, or attack from small unmanned aircraft flying below radar thresholds.
“Falcon Peak enables us to replicate complex drone attacks against our installations and test the layered defenses needed to neutralize them,” said a U.S. Air Force official overseeing the trials. “This is about defending our bases in the modern era, where the threat is cheap, accessible, and airborne.”
Technologies under evaluation include advanced radar arrays for early detection, RF and GNSS jamming systems, directed-energy weapons, and kinetic interceptors. The systems are being tested not in isolation but as part of an integrated architecture capable of sharing data, coordinating responses, and closing kill chains in real-time. This mirrors the Department of Defense’s push for Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) integration across services and domains.
The 96th Test Wing and First Air Force (AFNORTH), headquartered at Tyndall AFB, are leading the operational execution of the event. The base’s extensive range infrastructure and proximity to Gulf airspace make it an ideal venue for high-risk, high-value test scenarios. Defense contractors, research agencies, and joint-service teams are participating in the evaluation, though specific platforms remain undisclosed due to security considerations.
Beyond technical testing, Falcon Peak is expected to inform acquisition strategy through the Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO), as well as shape new Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) for Air Force Security Forces. The data gathered will be instrumental in developing doctrine for base defense against asymmetric air threats, not only within the continental U.S., but also for forward-deployed installations across the Indo-Pacific and Europe.
The exercise also reflects a broader strategic message: the U.S. Air Force is no longer viewing drones as an emerging threat, but as a persistent and evolving adversary that demands immediate and scalable response options. As drone warfare continues to redefine tactical advantage on the battlefield, the lessons of Falcon Peak may well determine the future shape of garrison defense across the U.S. military.Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition GroupAlain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.
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According to information published by the U.S. Air Force from Eglin Air Force Base on September 3, 2025, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) have launched Falcon Peak, a large-scale counter-unmanned aerial system (c-UAS) experiment aimed at advancing base defense capabilities against small drone threats. Hosted by Eglin AFB and continuing through September 19, 2025, the exercise is among the most comprehensive c-UAS trials ever conducted on U.S. soil, testing a range of cutting-edge systems in a realistic, contested environment.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Illustrative image: Senior Airman Cheyanne Parsons, 8th Security Forces Squadron counter-small unmanned aerial system instructor, prepares to launch a drone during exercise Beverly Sentinel 25-3 at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, August 6, 2025. While not related to Falcon Peak, this image highlights U.S. Air Force c-UAS training efforts worldwide. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)
Falcon Peak is centered on simulating hostile drone incursions over U.S. military installations, with unmanned aerial systems launched daily from Santa Rosa Island between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. These simulated attacks allow U.S. forces to evaluate multi-layered defense systems under operationally realistic conditions. In support of air and range safety, the 96th Test Wing has established restricted maritime zones around the test range, with active advisories broadcast on VHF Channel 16 and HF 2182 kHz.
Speaking from Eglin AFB, exercise planners described Falcon Peak as a “critical milestone” in the Air Force’s drive to develop scalable base protection capabilities. In recent years, the threat posed by small commercial and improvised drones has escalated rapidly, with adversaries in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Africa employing drones for reconnaissance, targeting, and precision strikes. These threats now extend to the U.S. homeland, where bases face the risk of intrusion, surveillance, or attack from small unmanned aircraft flying below radar thresholds.
“Falcon Peak enables us to replicate complex drone attacks against our installations and test the layered defenses needed to neutralize them,” said a U.S. Air Force official overseeing the trials. “This is about defending our bases in the modern era, where the threat is cheap, accessible, and airborne.”
Technologies under evaluation include advanced radar arrays for early detection, RF and GNSS jamming systems, directed-energy weapons, and kinetic interceptors. The systems are being tested not in isolation but as part of an integrated architecture capable of sharing data, coordinating responses, and closing kill chains in real-time. This mirrors the Department of Defense’s push for Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) integration across services and domains.
The 96th Test Wing and First Air Force (AFNORTH), headquartered at Tyndall AFB, are leading the operational execution of the event. The base’s extensive range infrastructure and proximity to Gulf airspace make it an ideal venue for high-risk, high-value test scenarios. Defense contractors, research agencies, and joint-service teams are participating in the evaluation, though specific platforms remain undisclosed due to security considerations.
Beyond technical testing, Falcon Peak is expected to inform acquisition strategy through the Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO), as well as shape new Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) for Air Force Security Forces. The data gathered will be instrumental in developing doctrine for base defense against asymmetric air threats, not only within the continental U.S., but also for forward-deployed installations across the Indo-Pacific and Europe.
The exercise also reflects a broader strategic message: the U.S. Air Force is no longer viewing drones as an emerging threat, but as a persistent and evolving adversary that demands immediate and scalable response options. As drone warfare continues to redefine tactical advantage on the battlefield, the lessons of Falcon Peak may well determine the future shape of garrison defense across the U.S. military.
Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.
