Updated August 17 with amplifying statement from U.S. Special Operations Command.

The U.S. Air Force plans to participate in a “ThunderDrone” technology demonstration this fall to study small drones and swarming applications. The exercise will culminate with a “prototype rodeo” in November and could lead to further development.

“Basically it’s to investigate swarms and platforms and effects and data science for small unmanned aerial vehicles,” Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said August 9 during an event at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. Participants are invited to “bring your stuff; we’ll see who the last drone standing is,” she added.

Sofwerx, of Tampa, Florida, a partnership of the non-profit Doolittle Institute and the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), is conducting the demonstration, which exemplifies a new approach to evaluating and acquiring technologies, Wilson said. ThunderDrone will be held in a 7,000-sq-ft indoor test range designed for drone experimentation, prototyping and testing, according to Sofwerx.

On its website, the organization has invited academic, laboratory, “citizen scientist” and industry participation.

“Sofwerx continues to seek new or novel system, subsystem, or component drone technologies and innovators who have not been previously identified to address SOF (special operations forces) warfighter needs,” the organization states. Selected technologies “will receive exposure to both SOF and USSOCOM Program Executive Office (or acquisition) representatives. Using SOF and USSOCOM feedback, ThunderDrone may also pick and fund a select few technologies for further development following the Rapid Prototyping Exercise.”

The event begins with a Tech Expo in early September and continues through a Prototype Rodeo from November 1 to 3.

ThunderDrone is just one example of the Air Force’s interest in small drones. In June, the service was named among prominent sponsors of the New York City-based Drone Racing League, a racing circuit for first-person view (FPV) pilots who fly camera-equipped drones using goggles.

“We’ll be the exclusive sponsor in the finals, and we’re looking for a venue where we can host a race on an Air Force facility,” Gen. James Holmes, commander of the Air Combat Command, told reporters in New Mexico. “They’re looking for venues that are colorful and attractive on television, and we’ve got some of those.”

Following publication of this article, USSOCOM provided AIN with the following statement:

"ThunderDrone is a U.S. Special Operations Command initiative dedicated to drone prototyping, which focuses on exploring drone technologies through idea formation, testing, and demonstrating efforts that are being conducted collaboratively with the Department of Defense’s Strategic Capabilities Office at our Sofwerx facility in Ybor City, Florida. This initiative is attracting collaboration from small businesses, industry and interagency partners, academia, innovators, all U.S. military services and warfighters. 

ThunderDrone seeks to learn and understand drone potentials and limitations, through exploration, prototyping, test and demonstration that offer both kinetic and non-kinetic effects and can operate on land, in the sea, in the air, or in space. 

There will be a series of events from September to November 2017, including a technology expo, warfighter idea formation, leadership reviews and technology sprints, all culminating in a prototype rodeo. Subsequent ThunderDrone events will continue through mid-2018."