Undertaking ULTRA to Revolutionize DoD Logistics and Site visitors Administration with Superior UAS Know-how
by DRONELIFE Employees Author Ian J. McNabb
Grand Forks County, situated in jap North Dakota, just lately introduced a brand new strategic partnership with GrandSKY, a neighborhood UAV-specific enterprise growth space situated at Grand Forks Air Drive Base. Known as Undertaking ULTRA, (UAS Logistics, Site visitors, Analysis, and Autonomy), the brand new partnership goals to enhance the UAS capabilities of the Division of Protection (DOD). These efforts are supported by Senator John Hoeven and aligned with the strategic targets of the Workplace of the Beneath Secretary of Protection for Acquisition & Sustainment (OUSD(A&S)).
Involving federal and personal entities together with NASA, the Air Drive Analysis Laboratory, and MITRE, Undertaking ULTRA goals to make use of UAS expertise to revolutionize logistics and visitors administration inside the Nationwide Airspace System.
“We’re more than happy for Grand Forks County to be part of Undertaking ULTRA,” stated David Engen, Chairman, Grand Forks County Fee. “This contract builds on the investments the County has made in GrandSKY and displays the vested curiosity the County has in base retention and supporting the women and men who work and serve at Grand Forks AFB. We’re additionally happy that the County can present this service and assist the group that may execute on this work.”
In line with the press launch, the undertaking, contracted by Washington Headquarters Providers, is structured below a 5-year Indefinite Supply/Indefinite Amount (ID/IQ) contract with a most ceiling of $18.25 million. Job orders shall be issued to outline particular initiatives and funding particulars, with Job Order 01 valued at $2,480,281, set to start on/about Could 29, 2024, and conclude by September 30, 2024.
Key Goals of Undertaking ULTRA:
- Improve airspace situational consciousness and visitors administration inside the NAS by means of testing and analysis of UTM and different visitors administration programs.
- Develop dependable, replicable, and scalable logistical and provide supply programs to distant navy places.
- Make the most of Past Visible-Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) capabilities to create scalable service fashions for numerous DoD installations.
- Combine Small UAS (sUAS) capabilities to enhance the standard of life for navy personnel and their households.
- Develop sustainable and scalable Counter UAS (cUAS) applied sciences to reinforce bodily safety measures at navy amenities and to combine cUAS applied sciences with visitors administration.
The undertaking goals to make the most of North Dakota’s well-developed UAS infrastructure and align the pursuits of a number of organizations to realize their operational targets. The Northern Plains UAS Take a look at Website (NPUASTS), a frontrunner in autonomous expertise options, will present important assist in flight route modeling, UAS choice, and FAA coordination.
“On behalf of GrandSKY, we’re grateful for this chance and searching ahead to working with a really succesful group,” stated Tom Swoyer, President, GrandSKY. “We respect Grand Forks County stepping up and supporting this effort and we’ll construct on our already very sturdy partnership with the Northern Plains Take a look at Website. We look ahead to leveraging our present capabilities to speed up the event of UAS-based supply options, counter-UAS, and in the end integrating all of it with state-of-the-art UAS visitors administration.”
“We’re excited to work with our companions on Undertaking ULTRA to operationalize these important missions for the Division of Protection,” stated Trevor Woods, Government Director, Northern Plains UAS Take a look at Website. “Our work will result in essential enhancements in logistics and visitors administration, and with our group’s prior expertise enabling Past Visible-Line-of-Sight (BVLOS), we’re persevering with to speed up capabilities for trade and protection.”
Extra data on the GrandSky undertaking is accessible right here.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, knowledgeable drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone trade and the regulatory atmosphere for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles targeted on the industrial drone area and is a global speaker and acknowledged determine within the trade. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising for brand new applied sciences.
For drone trade consulting or writing, Electronic mail Miriam.
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