Central ND News

The United States Air Force has chosen General Atomics as one of the two remaining vendors in the next phase of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drone program. Senator Cramer congratulated General Atomics for their innovative aircraft design and leadership in unmanned systems. He emphasized the importance of their role in aviation modernization and national security objectives.

General Atomics was tasked by the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) in 2021, which is seen as a significant advancement in drone technology. Senator Cramer highlighted General Atomics' contribution to North Dakota's unmanned aerial systems ecosystem, citing their support for MQ-9 operations, training of foreign pilots, and collaboration with the University of North Dakota.

Senator Cramer, in reference to General Atomics, stated, "Congratulations to General Atomics for the incredible ingenuity that went into this cutting-edge aircraft and for its continued leadership in unmanned systems." He also mentioned, "General Atomics has been a strong partner and a key component to North Dakota’s unmanned aerial systems ecosystem."

In a recent visit to the Grey Butte Airfield in Palmdale, California, Senator Cramer, along with Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force General James Slife and General Atomics CEO Linden Blue, witnessed the successful flight of the OBSS XQ-67A, demonstrating the progress made in drone technology development.