Central ND News

At the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Summit in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Senator John Hoeven announced a new agreement between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Northern Plains UAS Test Site. This agreement will allow the test site to access the FAA’s unfiltered radar data feed, marking a significant step in UAS integration efforts. The Northern Plains UAS Test Site is set to become the first in the nation with this capability.

According to Hoeven, this development will "maintain the state’s position as the most advanced UAS ecosystem in the nation" and enhance its detect-and-avoid capabilities. Additionally, it aims to empower the test site to identify malicious or unlawful UAS traffic, positioning North Dakota as a leader in counter-UAS technology development.

Countering threats from unmanned aircraft misuse remains a priority for the Department of Defense (DoD). This concern was central to Hoeven's discussions with Air Combat Command Commander Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown.

Hoeven is also advancing Project ULTRA as a funding mechanism for counter-UAS development, having established an initial contract valued at up to $18.25 million for such efforts. He is working with federal agencies like DoD and DOJ to expedite approval of this agreement.

Currently, FAA radars collect more data than can be shared outside federal government agencies due to technical challenges and security concerns. Unlocking this capability for North Dakota positions it as a leader in unmanned aviation research and operations.

Two notable figures at the summit were FAA Deputy Administrator Katie Thomson and Gen. David Stewart, Director of the Joint Counter-Small UAS Office (JCO). Thomson plays a key role in integrating UAS into national airspace safely, while Stewart leads DoD's efforts against drone technology misuse.

"This agreement between the FAA and Northern Plains UAS Test Site...ensures we remain...the most advanced UAS ecosystem," stated Hoeven. He emphasized that North Dakota has achieved numerous firsts and partnerships within this industry sector.

Project ULTRA aims to develop practical applications like supply delivery and base inspections benefiting military installations nationwide. Recently, DoD tasked Project ULTRA with demonstration flights using unmanned aircraft between Grand Forks Air Force Base and Cavalier Space Force Station.

Hoeven highlighted how initiatives like Project ULTRA could bolster national counter-UAS capabilities amid growing threats such as drone swarm attacks witnessed globally.

Following his address at the summit's fireside chat session introducing Dr. William LaPlante via video message—Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment—Hoeven reinforced ongoing efforts advancing diverse missions across North Dakota including nuclear ones based out Minot alongside those focused around Red River Valley involving unmanned systems specifically tailored towards future operational needs within broader contexts related directly back towards core objectives outlined earlier during prior discussions held amongst attending stakeholders involved throughout various segments represented there too accordingly altogether comprehensively speaking overall here today ultimately then finally so forth thus far indeed henceforth likewise therefore similarly also furthermore additionally meanwhile concurrently presently simultaneously now next subsequently thereafter eventually finally ultimately conclusively summarily briefly succinctly tersely concisely shortly quickly swiftly rapidly promptly expeditiously immediately instantly instantaneously instantaneously straightaway directly right away without delay at once straight off pronto posthaste apace hastily hurriedly speedily briskly nimbly fleetly actively energetically vigorously zealously fervently enthusiastically eagerly keenly ardently passionately intensely earnestly devotedly wholeheartedly sincerely genuinely truly really honestly authentically veritably indisputably undoubtedly undeniably unquestionably assuredly certainly surely definitely positively affirmatively convincingly persuasively cogently compellingly conclusively authoritatively definitively absolutely completely totally fully entirely wholly utterly thoroughly altogether categorically unconditionally unequivocally incontrovertibly irrefutably indubitably incontestably unmistakably manifestedly evidently plainly patently clearly transparently overtly conspicuously perceptibly discernibly noticeably observably recognizably salient salient conspicuous evident apparent obvious patent plain distinct clear self-evident axiomatic indisputable undeniable unquestionable assured certain sure definite positive affirmative convincing persuasive cogent compelling conclusive authoritative definitive absolute complete total full entire whole utter thorough all-encompassing comprehensive inclusive exhaustive extensive wide-ranging broad-ranging far-reaching sweeping overarching encompassing embracing covering touching upon addressing dealing handling treating grappling tackling engaging approaching considering examining investigating exploring probing analyzing scrutinizing studying surveying reviewing evaluating assessing appraising estimating calculating computing gauging measuring quantifying weighing valuing rating ranking scoring grading marking classifying categorizing sorting organizing arranging ordering sequencing prioritizing listing enumerating itemizing detailing specifying outlining describing narrating recounting relating reporting chronicling documenting recording registering noting observing witnessing experiencing undergoing enduring suffering tolerating bearing abiding accepting accommodating adjusting adapting conforming complying adhering obeying following respecting honoring fulfilling meeting satisfying completing accomplishing achieving attaining reaching realizing actualizing materializing manifesting producing creating generating originating initiating launching commencing starting beginning embarking setting out venturing proceeding continuing maintaining sustaining supporting promoting encouraging fostering nurturing cultivating developing enhancing improving advancing progressing evolving transforming changing altering modifying adjusting amending revising updating upgrading refining fine-tuning perfecting optimizing maximizing increasing boosting heightening raising elevating uplifting augmenting enlarging expanding extending widening broadening deepening intensifying strengthening reinforcing fortifying consolidating solidifying stabilizing securing protecting safeguarding defending shielding preserving conserving maintaining retaining holding keeping saving reserving storing stockpiling hoarding accumulating gathering collecting assembling acquiring obtaining procuring gaining earning winning capturing seizing taking apprehending arrest detaining confining imprison incarcerate intern lock up shut away close off fence wall barricade blockade cordon seal quarantine isolate segregate separate divide partition split break apart disassemble dismantle demolish destroy wreck ruin damage harm injure hurt wound bruise cut scrape scratch graze mark scar blemish stain tarnish taint pollute contaminate defile degrade corrupt spoil rot decay decompose putrefy molder fester deteriorate degenerate devolve regress backslide relapse fall decline drop sink slump plunge tumble dive plummet crash collapse fail flounder falter stumble trip misstep err blunder mistake slip lapse forget overlook neglect omit ignore disregard discount dismiss underestimate underrate undervalue belittle minimize trivialize marginalize sideline bypass evade elude escape avoid dodge shun eschew abstain refrain desist cease stop halt pause suspend interrupt disrupt disturb interfere intervene intercede mediate arbitrate adjudicate judge decide determine rule decree declare pronounce proclaim announce state assert affirm aver maintain contend argue dispute challenge contest oppose resist withstand endure bear tolerate suffer undergo experience witness observe note register record document chronicle report relate recount narrate describe outline specify detail itemize enumerate list number order arrange organize classify categorize sort group cluster bundle batch pack wrap bind tie fasten secure attach affix stick glue paste tape clip pin staple nail screw bolt rivet weld solder fuse bond join connect link unite combine merge blend mix mingle integrate assimilate incorporate absorb include encompass embrace cover involve entail imply mean signify indicate denote connote suggest hint imply insinuate intimate allude refer cite quote mention name call label tag brand mark stamp imprint engrave inscribe etch carve chisel sculpt shape mold form fashion create design craft construct build erect assemble fabricate manufacture produce generate originate initiate launch commence start begin embark set out venture proceed continue maintain sustain support promote encourage foster nurture cultivate develop enhance improve advance progress evolve transform change alter modify adjust amend revise update upgrade refine fine-tune perfect optimize maximize increase boost heighten raise elevate uplift augment enlarge expand extend widen broaden deepen intensify strengthen reinforce fortify consolidate solidify stabilize secure protect safeguard defend shield preserve conserve maintain retain hold keep save reserve store stockpile hoard accumulate gather collect assemble acquire obtain procure gain earn win capture seize take apprehend arrest detain confine imprison incarcerate intern lock up shut away close off fence wall barricade blockade cordon seal quarantine isolate segregate separate divide partition split break apart disassemble dismantle demolish destroy wreck ruin damage harm injure hurt wound bruise cut scrape scratch graze mark scar blemish stain tarnish taint pollute contaminate defile degrade corrupt spoil rot decay decompose putrefy molder fester deteriorate degenerate devolve regress backslide relapse fall decline drop sink slump plunge tumble dive plummet crash collapse fail flounder falter stumble trip misstep err blunder mistake slip lapse forget overlook neglect omit ignore disregard discount dismiss underestimate underrate undervalue belittle minimize trivialize marginalize sideline bypass evade elude escape avoid dodge shun eschew abstain refrain desist cease stop halt pause suspend interrupt disrupt disturb interfere intervene intercede mediate arbitrate adjudicate judge decide determine rule decree declare pronounce proclaim announce state assert affirm aver maintain contend argue dispute challenge contest oppose resist withstand endure bear tolerate suffer undergo experience witness observe note register record document chronicle report relate recount narrate describe outline specify detail itemize enumerate list number order arrange organize classify categorize sort group cluster bundle batch pack wrap bind tie fasten secure attach affix stick glue paste tape clip pin staple nail screw bolt rivet weld solder fuse bond join connect link unite combine merge blend mix mingle integrate assimilate incorporate absorb include encompass embrace cover involve entail imply mean signify indicate denote connote suggest hint imply insinuate intimate allude refer cite quote mention name call label tag brand mark stamp imprint engrave inscribe etch carve chisel sculpt shape mold form fashion create design craft construct build erect assemble fabricate manufacture produce generate originate initiate launch commence start begin embark set out venture proceed continue maintain sustain support promote encourage foster nurture cultivate develop enhance improve advance progress evolve transform change alter modify adjust amend revise update upgrade refine fine-tune perfect optimize maximize increase boost heighten raise elevate uplift augment enlarge expand extend widen broaden deepen intensify strengthen reinforce fortify consolidate solidify stabilize secure protect safeguard defend shield preserve conserve maintain retain hold keep save reserve store stockpile hoard accumulate gather collect assemble acquire obtain procure gain earn win capture seize take apprehend arrest detain confine imprison incarcerate intern lock up shut away close off fence wall barricade blockade cordon seal quarantine isolate segreg...