Kansas, North Dakota Battle Labs Evaluate Passive Defense Against sUAS at VAPOR 26.1

Airmen assigned to the 184th Wing’s Point Defense Battle Lab-Kansas and the 319th Reconnaissance Wing’s PDBL-North Dakota coordinate operational scenarios during the Valuable Asset Protection Operations Rehearsal (VAPOR) 26.1 at Avon Park Air Force Test Range, Florida, March 22-April 2, 2026. VAPOR 26.1 is a joint, Total Force exercise evaluating non-kinetic, passive defense measures—such as camouflage, concealment, deception, and hardening—to protect vital Air Force assets from small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). The rehearsal supports Air Combat Command's initiative to shift the military toward a proactive defensive posture, enhancing installation survivability and mission readiness.

PHOTO BY: Staff Sgt. Jovan Banks
VIRIN: 260328-F-YG789-1639.JPG
FULL SIZE: 2.86 MB
Additional Details

CAMERA

NIKON Z 6_2

LENS

NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S

APERTURE

18

SHUTTERSPEED

1/60

ISO

160

IMAGE IS PUBLIC DOMAIN

Read More

This photograph is considered public domain and has been cleared for release. If you would like to republish please give the photographer appropriate credit. Further, any commercial or non-commercial use of this photograph or any other DoD image must be made in compliance with guidance found at https://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations, which pertains to intellectual property restrictions (e.g., copyright and trademark, including the use of official emblems, insignia, names and slogans), warnings regarding use of images of identifiable personnel, appearance of endorsement, and related matters.