Reference & AI

DAFMAN 11-502

Air Force

GROUP(s) 1 AND 2 SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia, active-duty U.S. Air Force

DAFMAN 11-502, "GROUP(s) 1 AND 2 SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS", is a Department of the Air Force publication, dated January 10, 2025.

Published

January 10, 2025

OPR

AF/A3

Headquarters, Department of the Air Force

Official document

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DAFMAN 11-502 — index record

NumberDAFMAN 11-502
TitleGROUP(s) 1 AND 2 SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
PublishedJanuary 10, 2025
Certified currentJanuary 10, 2025
Office of primary responsibilityAF/A3
Issued byHeadquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the indexCurrent
Source indexAir Force e-Publishing
Index last readOctober 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (19 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This publication implements Department of the Air Force Policy Directive (DAFPD) 10-9, Lead Command/Lead Agency Designation and Responsibilities for United States Air Force Weapon Systems and Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 11-5, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. It provides guidance and procedures on sUAS operations throughout the Department of the Air Force (DAF). This publication applies to all DAF civilian employees, uniformed members of the Regular Air Force, the Air Force Reserve, the Air National Guard (ANG), the United States Space Force (USSF), Civil Air Patrol (CAP), when the services of CAP are used by any department or agency in any branch of the Federal Government, employing or testing Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Groups 1 and 2, and those with a contractual obligation to abide by the terms of DAF publications to include contractors who are also governed by Air Force Instruction (AFI) 10-220, Contractor’s Flight and Ground Operations, employing or testing Groups 1 and 2 UAS. DAFPD

Summary of changes, as printed

This is a new manual and must be completely reviewed. It contains Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) requirements and processes for Groups 1-2 sUAS that were previously contained in Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 11-502, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

Contents

  1. Chapter 1—OVERVIEWp. 5
  2. Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 7
  3. Chapter 3—TRAININGp. 12
  4. Chapter 4—STANDARDIZATION/EVALUATIONp. 18
  5. Chapter 5—OPERATIONSp. 23
  6. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 24
  7. Attachment 2—DOD UAS CATEGORIESp. 29
  8. Attachment 3—SAMPLE DAF FORM 797p. 30
  9. Attachment 6—SAMPLE UNIT SUAS-I UPGRADE TRAINING PROGRAMp. 34
  10. Attachment 7—SAMPLE RM WORKSHEET AND FLIGHT AUTHORIZATIONp. 36
  11. Attachment 8—NANO AND MICRO SUAS REQUIREMENTSp. 38
  12. Attachment 9—GROUP(S) 1 AND 2 CONTINUATION TRAININGp. 39
  13. Attachment 10—SUAS UNIT TRAINING TOPICS CHECKLISTp. 41
  14. Attachment 11—CIVIL AIR PATROL (CAP) REQUIREMENTSp. 44
All 46 contents entries
  1. Chapter 1—OVERVIEWp. 5
  2. 1.1. Overviewp. 5
  3. 1.2. Key Definitionsp. 5
  4. 1.3. Waiver Authorityp. 5
  5. 1.4. Terminologyp. 6
  6. Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 7
  7. 2.1. Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations (AF/A3)p. 7
  8. 2.3. Lead Command(s)p. 7
  9. 2.4. MAJCOM. Note:p. 8
  10. 2.6. Squadron Commanderp. 9
  11. 2.7. Squadron/unit sUAS Program Manager (sUAS PM) will:p. 9
  12. 2.8. Squadron/Unit Small Unmanned Aircraft System Instructor (sUAS-I) will:p. 10
  13. 2.9. Lead Small Unmanned Aircraft System Operator (sUAS-O) will:p. 10
  14. 2.10. Individual Small Unmanned Aircraft System Operators (sUAS-Os) will:p. 11
  15. Chapter 3—TRAININGp. 12
  16. 3.1. Generalp. 12
  17. 3.2. Initial Training (IT)p. 12
  18. 3.3. Formal Training Unit (FTU)p. 13
  19. 3.4. Vendor Provided Trainingp. 13
  20. 3.5. Group 1 and 2 sUAS Unit Provided Trainingp. 13
  21. 3.6. Mission Training (MT)p. 14
  22. 3.7. Differences Training (DT)p. 15
  23. 3.8. Continuation Training (CT)p. 15
  24. 3.9. Stores or Weapons Releasep. 15
  25. 3.10. Family of Systemsp. 16
  26. 3.11. Air Deliverable sUASp. 16
  27. 3.12. Documentationp. 16
  28. Chapter 4—STANDARDIZATION/EVALUATIONp. 18
  29. 4.2. Objectivesp. 18
  30. 4.3. Group(s) 1 and 2 Standardization/Evaluation Programp. 18
  31. 4.4. Multiple Certificationp. 19
  32. 4.5. Documentationp. 19
  33. 4.6. Initial Cadre or Assignment to sUAS-Ip. 20
  34. 4.8. Commander-Directed Downgradep. 22
  35. Chapter 5—OPERATIONSp. 23
  36. 5.1. Generalp. 23
  37. 5.2. Waiversp. 23
  38. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 24
  39. Attachment 2—DOD UAS CATEGORIESp. 29
  40. Attachment 3—SAMPLE DAF FORM 797p. 30
  41. Attachment 6—SAMPLE UNIT SUAS-I UPGRADE TRAINING PROGRAMp. 34
  42. Attachment 7—SAMPLE RM WORKSHEET AND FLIGHT AUTHORIZATIONp. 36
  43. Attachment 8—NANO AND MICRO SUAS REQUIREMENTSp. 38
  44. Attachment 9—GROUP(S) 1 AND 2 CONTINUATION TRAININGp. 39
  45. Attachment 10—SUAS UNIT TRAINING TOPICS CHECKLISTp. 41
  46. Attachment 11—CIVIL AIR PATROL (CAP) REQUIREMENTSp. 44

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Air Force index

REF: DAFMAN 11-502, effective January 10, 2025

Air Force e-Publishing — DAFMAN 11-502

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Reviewed by Guilherme Correia · Military Toolkit editorial

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