Nation / PlaceUS

Camp Grayling

Michigan Army National Guard training installation hosting the Pentagon's Drone Dominance Phase 2 Gauntlet Stage 1, 8-20 June 2026.

Camp Grayling is a Michigan National Guard training installation. From 8 to 20 June 2026, it hosted the Pentagon’s Drone Dominance Gauntlet, testing 79 drones from 49 companies.

Last refreshed: 1 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Why is the Pentagon testing its most consequential drone contract at a Michigan forest base?

Timeline for Camp Grayling

#18 18 Sept

Mentioned in: DIU ranks Gauntlet II drone winners

Drones: Industry & Defence

#15 3 Jul

Mentioned in: Gauntlet II sets five-week build sprint

Drones: Industry & Defence

#14 1 Jul

Pentagon orders 120 drones in five weeks

Drones: Industry & Defence

#13 20 Jun

Hosted Gauntlet Stage 1 trials 8-20 June 2026

Drones: Industry & Defence: Drone Gauntlet now judges the parts

#11 8 Jun

Hosted Phase 2 Gauntlet Stage 1

Drones: Industry & Defence: Drone Dominance Gauntlet opens 8 June

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Background

Camp Grayling is the primary training installation for the Michigan National Guard. Its forested, open and urban-simulation areas support combined-arms exercises and testing of emerging military systems. In June 2026, the Pentagon used the site for the first stage of its Drone Dominance Gauntlet.

Established in 1913, Camp Grayling covers 147,000 acres across Crawford, Kalkaska and Otsego counties in northern Michigan. It trains National Guard, Regular Army and Reserve personnel, including units from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.

The installation’s scale and varied terrain give it lasting value as a place where military units can test equipment and tactics outside a conventional range setting. Its June 2026 drone evaluation included competitors from Ukrainian firms, FPV racing and established suppliers.

Common Questions

Where is Camp Grayling and how big is it?

Camp Grayling is in northern Michigan, spread across Crawford, Kalkaska and Otsego counties. At 147,000 acres (590 km²), it is the largest National Guard training facility in the United States.Source: Wikipedia / Michigan National Guard

Why is the Pentagon Drone Dominance Phase 2 being held at Camp Grayling?

Camp Grayling offers 147,000 acres of varied terrain and electronic warfare infrastructure, allowing more realistic contested-environment testing than the Phase 1 venue at Fort Moore. The Michigan National Guard has been expanding its role in emerging-technology military evaluation.Source: Lowdown

What happened at Camp Grayling in June 2026?

The Pentagon's Drone Dominance Phase 2 Gauntlet Stage 1 ran from 8 to 20 June 2026 at Camp Grayling, Michigan, involving FPV racing veterans, two Ukrainian firms and Phase 1 performers Skycutter and Neros.Source: Lowdown

Source Material

Camp Grayling (Michigan National Guard)Camp Grayling (Wikipedia)