Peace Garden News

Senator John Hoeven convened a meeting with Dr. William LaPlante, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, alongside leaders from the Northern Plains Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Test Site and GrandSKY. The discussion focused on how North Dakota can address defense needs in unmanned aircraft and counter-UAS technologies.

Hoeven emphasized the necessity to expand Project ULTRA, which he has been promoting as a funding mechanism to support counter-UAS development. He stated that "Project ULTRA can serve as a bridge between an existing DoD contracting vehicle and new counter-UAS capabilities being developed in the private sector." This priority was previously discussed by Hoeven at the UAS Summit in Grand Forks with Gen. David Stewart.

The meeting also highlighted the potential to utilize the Northern Plains UAS Test Site's access to unfiltered radar data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This data feed could enhance North Dakota's UAS ecosystem by allowing safe flight operations where other states' test sites cannot. It would also help detect unlawful UAS traffic, positioning North Dakota as a leading location for counter-UAS technology development.

Hoeven further noted that "Project ULTRA and the FAA’s unfiltered radar feed are a tremendous opportunity for the DoD and North Dakota," enabling rapid testing of capabilities to detect, track, and counter UAS threats at military bases.

Participants in this meeting included Trevor Woods from Northern Plains UAS Test Site, Chris Hewlett from Project ULTRA at GrandSKY, and Everett Dunnick from Northern Plains UAS Test Site. They explored potential partnerships between DoD, North Dakota's UAS ecosystem, and private industry.

This initiative builds on Hoeven's efforts with LaPlante to advance military priorities like counter-UAS and nuclear modernization. Earlier this month, LaPlante underscored the significance of these technologies during video remarks at the UAS Summit in Grand Forks. Hoeven has also supported legislation for developing counter-UAS technology to protect critical facilities.