Latest news with #GrandSky
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Defense contractor BlueHalo hopes to join GrandSky's Project ULTRA
Mar. 18—EMERADO, North Dakota — Another defense contractor is bringing its technology to GrandSky in hopes of joining the Project ULTRA drone initiative. Unmanned systems and cybersecurity contractor BlueHalo has signed a memorandum of understanding with the aviation park that allows GrandSky to "test-drive" its VigilantHalo software. "Our plan is to establish a local presence at the site, to expand our presence there at the site and to be, locally, part of the evaluation and improvements to the system to address the vision the state has," said BlueHalo executive Larry Lloyd. Project ULTRA is the $18.25 million public-private partnership exploring military applications for drones. VigilantHalo is an air traffic control software designed specifically to enable unmanned drones to fly BVLOS, or beyond-visual-line-of-sight, flights. That's one of the leading goals of Project ULTRA. "In the simplest terms, they've got a show to put on, we've got a stage to put it on," GrandSky President Tom Swoyer said. The company announced the MOU at a Tuesday visit to the aviation park alongside U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. University of North Dakota President Andy Armacost, Grand Forks Air Force Base commander Col. Tim Monroe and representatives from the city of Grand Forks and Grand Forks County were among those in attendance. Hoeven, GrandSky's longtime patron in the governor's office and the Senate, said the partnership between the two groups was "tremendous." "It's really important for the development, not only for counter-drone and aerospace technologies, but also for reaching out into space," Hoeven said. "We're doing all of those things here, and BlueHalo is an absolute leader in that technology development." BlueHalo already has an existing relationship with the GrandSky-based Test Resource Management Center, a Defense Department project to convert old RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned planes into a testing and detection system for hypersonic missiles. Those aircraft use BlueHalo's phased array antenna to detect airborne objects like missiles. The company is also hoping to partner with UND to further develop its phased-array technology and solicit engineers to work for the company. Scott Snyder, UND's vice president of research and economic development, said the university had not yet inked a deal with the defense contractor but that BlueHalo employees had met with UND's satellite and radar experts. "I'm fully certain we will be able to develop some exceptional research collaboration and educational collaboration for developing their need for engineers," he said.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Defense contractor BlueHalo hopes to join GrandSky's Project ULTRA
Mar. 18—EMERADO, North Dakota — Another defense contractor is bringing its technology to GrandSky in hopes of joining the Project ULTRA drone initiative. Unmanned systems and cybersecurity contractor BlueHalo has signed a memorandum of understanding with the aviation park that allows GrandSky to "test-drive" its VigilantHalo software. "Our plan is to establish a local presence at the site, to expand our presence there at the site and to be, locally, part of the evaluation and improvements to the system to address the vision the state has," said BlueHalo executive Larry Lloyd. Project ULTRA is the $18.25 million public-private partnership exploring military applications for drones. VigilantHalo is an air traffic control software designed specifically to enable unmanned drones to fly BVLOS, or beyond-visual-line-of-sight, flights. That's one of the leading goals of Project ULTRA. "In the simplest terms, they've got a show to put on, we've got a stage to put it on," GrandSky President Tom Swoyer said. The company announced the MOU at a Tuesday visit to the aviation park alongside U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. University of North Dakota President Andy Armacost, Grand Forks Air Force Base commander Col. Tim Monroe and representatives from the city of Grand Forks and Grand Forks County were among those in attendance. Hoeven, GrandSky's longtime patron in the governor's office and the Senate, said the partnership between the two groups was "tremendous." "It's really important for the development, not only for counter-drone and aerospace technologies, but also for reaching out into space," Hoeven said. "We're doing all of those things here, and BlueHalo is an absolute leader in that technology development." BlueHalo already has an existing relationship with the GrandSky-based Test Resource Management Center, a Defense Department project to convert old RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned planes into a testing and detection system for hypersonic missiles. Those aircraft use BlueHalo's phased array antenna to detect airborne objects like missiles. The company is also hoping to partner with UND to further develop its phased-array technology and solicit engineers to work for the company. Scott Snyder, UND's vice president of research and economic development, said the university had not yet inked a deal with the defense contractor but that BlueHalo employees had met with UND's satellite and radar experts. "I'm fully certain we will be able to develop some exceptional research collaboration and educational collaboration for developing their need for engineers," he said.
