Rep. Estes Votes to Pass National Defense Authorization Act, Securing Key Authorization for 184th Wing at McConnell AFB
Washington,
July 22, 2026
U.S. Representative Ron Estes (KS-04) released the following statement after voting in favor of the House passage of H.R. 8800, the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): “Providing for a strong national defense and ensuring our service members have the tools they need to protect our homeland is one of Congress’s most critical constitutional duties. This year’s NDAA delivers on rebuilding the arsenal of freedom, including provisions to bolster readiness, strengthen quality of life and military families, restore lethality, reinvigorate our defense industrial base, and reinforce American military deterrence. The bill directly supports the crucial role that Kansas airmen and soldiers play in protecting our nation. It is especially significant that this legislation includes a $10 million authorization for the Point Defense Battle Lab (PDBL) mission. The 184th Wing at McConnell Air Force Base is the only National Guard Wing supporting this mission, and the 184th Wing is uniquely positioned to leverage Kansas’s world-class aviation expertise, workforce, and research institutions like Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR). Advancing our Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) capabilities and hardening our military installations is an urgent operational necessity in today’s evolving threat landscape. While the NDAA is an authorization bill rather than a funding bill, securing this authorization is an important step toward equipping the 184th Wing with the infrastructure and equipment needed to execute this critical national security mission,” Rep. Ron Estes said. Point Defense Battle Lab Background: Along with the 319th Reconnaissance Wing out of Grand Forks Air Force Base, the Point Defense Battle Lab (PDBL) initiative focuses on validating tactics, techniques, and procedures for countering a wide range of airborne threats. Ultimately, the PDBL aims to safeguard installations and protect critical Department of War assets. The 184th Wing at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita was designated by Air Combat Command (ACC) to support the Air Force’s PBDL mission, the only National Guard Wing supporting this mission. Representative Estes previously advocated for the selection of the 184th Wing to be designated as a partner unit for the PDBL mission, as it presents a unique opportunity for the DoW to leverage south central Kansas’s expertise, industry, and capabilities. ### |