Young Statement on Governor Braun’s Executive Order Establishing Indiana Drone Taskforce

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) applauded an executive order (EO) issued by Indiana Governor Mike Braun (R-Ind.) positioning Indiana to lead in the federal government's mission of American drone dominance.Governor Braun developed the EO in collaboration with Senator Young.

As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Young is working on drone issues at the federal level.

"Drones are increasingly critical to our economy and national security, and as a leading manufacturing state, Indiana is positioned to help unleash American drone dominance," said Senator Young. "Over the past several months, my team has worked hand in hand with Governor Braun's team on developing this executive order. Governor Braun has been a great partner on this issue, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Governor and Hoosier stakeholders to support the President's executive order and empower the U.S. drone industry."

"Indiana has always stepped up to use our skills and labor to support America's defense. Indiana's advanced manufacturing capacity and our concentration of defense and research assets make us uniquely suited to lead in America's pursuit of drone dominance, and this new Task Force will position Indiana as a national asset and drive innovation in this important sector," said Governor Braun.

The EO establishes the Indiana Initiative for Drone Dominance Task Force, which will develop a strategic plan for how the state can utilize our unique attributes to lead the nation in this important sector. This includes our robust advanced manufacturing industry, expertise from NSWC Crane, restricted airspace over assets like Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, strong policy framework, and universities with established programs to further drone research and development.

The new task force will coordinate efforts across government, academia, and industry to support President Trump's Unleashing American Drone Dominanceand Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty executive orders, which set a national goal for American leadership in drone technology and airspace security.

Drones represent the next aviation revolution, with the North American drone market estimated to reach $59 billion by 2030.

Key priorities of the task force include:

• Developing a cross-sector aerial test corridor connecting sites such as Camp Atterbury, Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, and NSWC Crane.
  
• Expanding public safety applications of unmanned aircraft during major sporting and civic events.
  
• Strengthening Indiana's drone manufacturing supply chain and encouraging growth among small and emerging firms.
  
• Exploring new infrastructure for detection, tracking, and neutralization of unauthorized drones.
  
• Supporting workforce training programs and partnerships with Indiana colleges and universities to prepare Hoosiers for high-tech drone careers.
  
• Preserving Indiana's commitment to personal privacy and safety through all drone testing and policies.

Executive Order 25-73 can be viewed HERE.