Innovation News

Tulsa has emerged as a frontrunner in the race for American drone prominence. This isn’t luck, it’s the culmination of five years of strategic vision, big bets on Tulsa’s expertise and a dedicated commitment to executing initiatives by a coalition of regional partners.  

The White House's call for American drone acceleration, amplified by Secretary of Defense Hegseth's drone acquisition memo, has found its ideal launchpad right here in the heartland—Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The Department of Defense has outlined five goals for America’s drone industry:

• Decentralized Procurement: Empowering local innovation.
• Expanded Experimental Use: Fostering rapid iteration and discovery.
• Treating Small and Medium Drones as Consumables: Driving down costs and accelerating deployment.
• Accelerating Deployment: Getting drones into the hands of those who need them, now.
• Opening Procurement for U.S.-Made Platforms: Prioritizing American ingenuity and jobs.

These principles aren't just aspirational for Tulsa, they're the foundation upon which we've built our drone ecosystem. For years, we've been proactively laying the groundwork in anticipation of this pivotal moment. Because of this, we’re already well-positioned to answer the call for the nation’s drone ambitions, enhance national security goals and continue building our momentum toward being the Drone Capital of the World.

The following initiatives are a sampling of the ongoing work in the Tulsa region that answer the call for American drone dominance.

Skyway Range: Providing one-of-a-kind testing environments

Osage Nation’s Skyway Range offers a one-of-a-kind testing environment for autonomous flight across urban and rural airways, helping companies prove safety, security and performance, a key to navigating new regulations and advancing drone innovation. 

The primary entry point for the range is Skyway 36, a 3,000 foot runway, located just three miles north of downtown Tulsa and four miles west of Tulsa International Airport–right in the heart of Tulsa. 

WindShape, the first tenant of Skyway Range, is a cutting-edge indoor UAS testing and validation facility. Set to open in September of 2025, this partnership emphasizes the larger Tulsa region’s commitment to bolstering drone technology. 

With new government requirements to create drone formations and training environments, there will be heightened demand for real-world test ranges like Skyway Range.

Green UAS Certifications: Ensuring cyber-secure drone technology development

The Tulsa region recently achieved a milestone of completing its first Green UAS certification. The University of Tulsa’s (TU) Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute (OCII) granted the certification to Wingtra, a global leader in drone manufacturing, paired with hardware testing support from Oklahoma State University (OSU). The certification ensures that a company’s technology meets strict federal standards for security and sourcing.

The ongoing validation work at TU and OSU provides the rigorous testing and data-driven insights necessary to ensure the safety and reliability of drone technology. This collaboration strengthens Tulsa's position as a leader in drone research and development.

Drone as First Responder Program: Using drone technology in emergency response efforts

Tulsa has already seen the benefits of Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in emergency response. Last year, the Tulsa Fire Department (TFD) used a drone stationed at the Gathering Place to identify the site of a potentially destructive fire. Within hours, the fire was under control. In another instance, Oklahoma State University’s drone technology helped the TFD locate a missing child. 

Tulsa’s use of drones as first responders has positioned the city at the forefront of a public safety transformation. SkyDio, one of the only American-made drone manufacturers, selected TFD to conduct a 60-day pilot program testing a new drone model, demonstrating growing national recognition of Tulsa’s leadership in next-generation flight systems. Stationed at the new Gradient building downtown, the drone has already been deployed in emergency response efforts. 

TARMAC: Supporting U.S. manufacturing through industrial policy alignment

Led by Tulsa Innovation Labs, Cherokee Nation Business and Accenture, TARMAC will empower small and mid-sized manufacturers with the equipment, financing and technical resources to transition their manufacturing efforts to component parts for autonomous systems. With equipment cost presenting a barrier to newer businesses, TARMAC’s support will alleviate financial burden and allow manufacturers to push forward. 

TARMAC’s commitment to supporting U.S.-made platforms aligns with the national industrial policy driving this initiative. By fostering domestic manufacturing and innovation, Tulsa is not only creating jobs but also ensuring the long-term security and resilience of our drone supply chain.

The Epicenter of American Drone Innovation

At Tulsa Innovation Labs, our focus is on leading the establishment of a sustainable ecosystem that can deliver high-quality, cyber-secure drones at scale, positioning Tulsa as a national center and one-stop shop for drone manufacturing and innovation.

Stay tuned for further updates as we continue to cement Tulsa as the epicenter of the American drone revolution. 

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