AFCENT Battle Lab paves way for drone-on-drone defense
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Kelson Whitten, 9th Air Force (Air Forces Central) Battle Lab software engineer, solders wires on a drone chassis Nov. 7, 2025, at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. The AFCENT Battle Lab is constructing small, unmanned aircraft systems to be used in a variety of applications throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron J. Jenne)