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U.S. Senator Roger Marshall praised the Air Combat Command’s decision to include the Kansas Air National Guard’s 184th Wing at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita in the new Point Defense Task Force. The Wing will also host a Point Defense Battle Lab, while the Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range near Salina will serve as a testing site for counter-drone technology.

The move aims to strengthen U.S. defenses against small drone threats, recognizing the 184th Wing’s expertise in air battle management, cyber operations, and advanced intelligence systems. Senator Marshall and Congressman Ron Estes worked with military leaders to secure this opportunity for Kansas.

This decision builds on Kansas’s strong role in drone innovation, linking the military with research from Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research and Kansas State University Salina. These partnerships will help develop, test, and improve technology to defend U.S. bases from drone attacks.