Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, announced that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has tasked Project ULTRA with conducting demonstration flights using unmanned aircraft to move cargo between Grand Forks Air Force Base and Cavalier Space Force Station.

The flights are supported by $3.5 million in funding secured by Hoeven in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations legislation. This builds upon previous efforts providing $2.5 million in FY2023 to establish the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) initiative and begin simulations of the unmanned cargo flights, as well as $25 million for collaborative research between DoD, NASA, and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site. Hoeven also included $7 million in the Senate’s FY2025 DoD funding bill, for which Project ULTRA will be eligible.

The project involves cargo payloads of at least 25 kilograms over 100 kilometers and aims to accelerate practical UAS applications for the military. It is expected to benefit Grand Forks Air Force Base and provide a template for UAS activities at installations across the country.

“Project ULTRA is all about realizing the potential of unmanned aircraft to support a wide range of defense operations, from logistics to countering threats from other drones. By funding this new $3.5 million task order, we are bringing this exciting initiative into its next phase, which involves conducting cargo test flights between Grand Forks and Cavalier using UAS,” said Hoeven. “Further, with up to $7 million secured in the Senate’s FY2025 funding legislation, we are positioned to continue supporting Project ULTRA’s operations in the years to come.”

Project ULTRA includes developing practical UAS applications like supply delivery, base inspections, and installation security. The initiative received an open contract valued at up to $18.25 million and can continue receiving funding in subsequent years. The project partners include GrandSky, Northern Plains UAS Test Site, Simulyze, Scientific Applications and Research Associates (SARA), Modern Technology Solutions International (MTSI), Perikin, and Aura Networks.