# The FBI built its own replica small town to simulate real-world cyberattacks

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-06-13 17:07 UTC · Category: Business

## Executive Summary
The FBI’s 22,000-sq-ft indoor replica town marks a new frontier in cybersecurity training—blurring the line between simulation and reality.

## Intelligence Brief
The FBI has constructed a highly detailed, 22,000-square-foot indoor facility in Alabama designed to replicate a small town, complete with homes, streets, a hotel, and a hospital. Dubbed the *Kinetic Cyber Range*, the facility serves as a controlled environment where agents can practice responding to cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, according to official FBI documentation and multiple tech outlets. Coverage highlights the facility’s realism, including interconnected digital and physical systems to mimic real-world attack scenarios.


Outlets such as *The Verge*, *TechCrunch*, and *Yahoo News Singapore* emphasize its scale, design, and purpose—positioning it as a first-of-its-kind tool for law enforcement cyber training. The FBI’s official site confirms its operational status but does not disclose specific training details. What to watch next: Whether this model will be replicated by other agencies or private sectors, and how the facility’s effectiveness will be measured against evolving cyber threats.


Coverage does not yet specify operational timelines or partnerships beyond the FBI’s internal use.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| dev.ua | The FBI built a large-scale cyber training ground in the form of a real town to train detectives to repel hacker attacks | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiZkFVX3lxTFA5c0JhQkczNWE2U2hEZzNsNU9YbDduZGdWbUl4dmxPOUFpXzR6d0FPaERDb3gtT3hiQ1hpbWphckJEanJxSHJxcEF5SUVtWWpXSHJ6LUFvMTV3VUppZFYyeDcwdjdVdw?oc=5) |
| The Verge | The FBI built a small town to simulate cyberattacks | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiwFBVV95cUxPeTh6clZKNmhtQkNoMjhWNjN0NS1tN01jbXdGNk1WMEN5dDZaMG8weEVzMVR3MFluNy1VVHZHeUlOeVNSWHlPd1NVcXRTY0lWaEFGYkppUjBKdzZ0azBYakFkWFRWb3FNNlNJcU1HSWlzTGw5a21NaExyN3hBYVVWUVJCNFVJWHdLanVN?oc=5) |
| Inshorts | FBI builds 22,000-sq-ft fake town with hotel, hospital to simulate cyberattacks - To see a video of the town - Inshorts | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivwFBVV95cUxQTkF6MVJ3VFhPZTdpWk00b0xqX2dGTHZQZHBSa3ctMXNBZkpHTjBpMmItZWdmUkRSYzJGR1daNWJ0UjhoRGpmR2hrMTZjYU02bUpnX0lFN0VlMy1uclRVVW05ZG9XMWhwVWdhWDM2TkhpMWxVLUZheE4wdFBsZjJCWUt6ckF0OVRFV1BrWFA2cDN4RHhXYzNxVHdWSDIwdGpMTjJ2VzNhOGJhamlZOGVFSzVIVmEtWElwbk9rT2lTSdIBxAFBVV95cUxQX2Q3QmpCdFV5aHJhSFNtYXRNdy1sNGFSVDdGdXQyREZWcW5NZnltMlVtbkVfVEtiajBiX0wxcWlNRkJmSmZQTm0zTE9PWURqSEU2QUxsMkExa0VKV2NwUUw2Z2YwTERCeHhJTmFnWGpZVl9QQS1sMXB0QU1MdTAwV2RfaUNLVGdNakRvSkNMMnNpQnJ) |
| Yahoo News Singapore | FBI Maintains 22,000-Square-Foot Indoor Town in Alabama for Cyber Training | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMid0FVX3lxTE1jb0YtYUtJbW91WDNWNXdIVHFUUnF3c1dZdzdDcXc3OUhEblZzenhlUGVCRldrdVZTaTR5V0dsd3lqZ25jcnBEbVJBQWVEXzNsVkNqU21RcVlwdGVkOW1JOWUxSXZQMkhpUHZvU3YxaVhua0VEZGp3?oc=5) |
| the-sun.com | Inside the FBI's hi-tech and ultra-realistic fake town filled with homes and streets where agents prep for cyber attacks | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxPZUxIbENYMnN1M1Z2UVRpMWdkTTJ1MVBNTWdhdm9CRFpkU3V4WFQ0YlFPM3MzWEZTdEExZEM3ZWM2V0dDc0U4TVFoNTF6ellUS04tRWRqcUVGenVqZmVvY0lNQUhrdkI0VkU3ck0yMHVQUjlucnZ5WDRRWktSZmlmZHBlZkc?oc=5) |
| New York Post | FBI reveals 22,000-square-foot fake town used to train agents for cyber warfare | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixwFBVV95cUxQWi1JSW9rT0h0cmh4SGhmUGVEN2N2MGhPV19LeUFpNE1rVlByeEY0NDlwZzU4MHN5RldvaEhHb3RYd2FxLWs0dlNQbjdiWlB4emtWUE55XzNEX0RfT3NEeHlBUDZFMnpFcXpXWXJOemI5N2xWT2VTbFdQMTBQX25xdmxaQTNSdldJWGQ3Q2dvQU1DYTZOWDZvM3VwWVcwZ3ZlTk0weUtIOVJDTUVDXzlIV2hURnlYbThUd2ZkbjNQdElXT3pZRERF?oc=5) |
| Federal Bureau of Investigation (.gov) | Kinetic Cyber Range | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMid0FVX3lxTFAxOVIwZWd5S1Y1NlBPMFBBTTN2QnVUZEI1Q1BTaU1OZjdOQ2Q4eS1WR01oTkE1amdOUV9MRjBHQmdUcS1hVWxDMElhLUZIYmd1bEZjWXR4TjBPYTRGaGNrZmcyV3pvMzJHenE2WFVqUG1OU0NveUxn?oc=5) |
| TechCrunch | The FBI built its own replica small town to simulate real-world cyberattacks | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisAFBVV95cUxNM19xZGlhaE1ZM0luZkVxTThjWHUwRUpyVktHTEtfRnFNb3FyTzcweVVFV1FkN3g4dEtJTWw1MHZHeTBHWnc4ZkVOd1I5bmNDZW5lMTNwNTgzSlRCY0hmYVpCZnFycjhMWkF2YUVlSDY1OVlJVURweVlKWmFvZjVpY3IwR2VvSGZBRklOS3UzeHpkWXM4akNMb2x5V3o3d2RlenhjRURtb0syMjRjUmVuWQ?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-06-13/the-fbi-built-its-own-replica-small-town-to-simulate-real-world-cyberattacks*