Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Unveils Point Defense Battle Lab at Grand Forks Air Force Base

Cramer Attends the Celebration, Tours Base and SDA Operations Center

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GRAND FORKS, N.D. - From adversaries overseas to incursions into military installations, small drones have changed warfare and espionage. Grand Forks Air Force Base's (GFAFB) leadership in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) is proving itself indispensable in countering emerging drone threats and bolstering America's national defense. Today, the 319^th Reconnaissance Wing at GFAFB officially unveiled the Air Combat Command's (ACC) Point Defense Battle Lab (PDBL), a premier hub for testing, tactics development, and real-world experimentation. The PDBL will conduct monthly exercises to grow the knowledge and capabilities needed to defend all installations against small drone threats.

U.S. Senator Cramer (R-ND) attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the PDBL. Cramer advocated for the site's selection in Grand Forks through his role on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC). GFAFB's designation as the home of ACC's PDBL cements the base's role in shaping the future of force protection and reflects years of advocacy to bring next-generation missions to North Dakota.

"We can't even talk about all the stuff going on in Grand Forks because it would be too long of a ceremony," said Cramer, chair of the SASC Airland Subcommittee. "But it's good to be us. The Point Defense Battle Lab is a bunch of patriotic Americans with resources, governance, and world class talent. At the end of the day, all the technology in the world doesn't get the job done without the people behind it."

Cramer also stopped by the Space Development Agency's (SDA) operations center, before visiting the Disaster Resiliency Program building at GFAFB and being briefed by Air Force leadership regarding updates on the base's runway construction.

As UAS incursions increasingly threaten U.S. installations, the mission at GFAFB has emerged as a frontline effort in defending the homeland. Over the past two and a half years, Cramer has taken an active role in addressing the growing challenge of small drone threats to domestic bases. Cramer has brought top military leadership to North Dakota, including Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Ken Wilsbach and former Vice Chief of Staff Jim Slife, to assess operations and advance counter-UAS solutions at GFAFB. He has also worked with Joint Interagency Task Force 401 to better align authorities and resources supporting drone defense and innovation.

As part of a broader push to strengthen North Dakota's role in the nation's UAS defense ecosystem, Cramer visited Yuma Proving Ground in January, where he observed cutting-edge testing focused on counter-UAS capabilities and drone defense systems.

Through his position on SASC, Cramer has advocated for funding to repair and restore the runway at GFAFB. His efforts include planning and design funding in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act to begin the process, and meetingwith General Wilsbach about the runway conditions.

Grand Forks is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of America's space architecture. Through its partnership with the SDA the base now plays a key role operating the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. Cramer facilitated the partnership between the SDA and GFAFB, hosting officials and promoting the base's strategic position for satellite operations.

In October 2020, Cramer first brought former SDA Director Dr. Derek Tournear to Grand Forks to view firsthand how GFAFB's UAS professionals operate systems around the world from North Dakota. The following year, after Cramer's continued advocacy for federal space assets and defense modernization, SDA designated GFAFB as operator of its future satellite mission using the base as a center to monitor and maneuver LEO satellites. In 2024, Cramer flipped the switch to bring the SDA Operations Center North at GFAFB online.