Latest news with #ProjectULTRA
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.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Air Force vice chief, North Dakota's senators visit Grand Forks Air Force Base
Feb. 17—GRAND FORKS — North Dakota's senators joined the Air Force's second-highest-ranking officer for a tour of Grand Forks Air Force Base this weekend. U.S. Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer visited the air base alongside Air Force Vice Chief of Staff James Slife. Slife visited Grand Forks as well as Minot Air Force Base and the 119th Wing of the Air National Guard during what Cramer's office called a "Valentines Day Weekend tour" of North Dakota's air bases. News media were not invited to visit the base during the general's visit. Both senators released press statements Monday following the weekend visit. "I never tire of visiting the airmen of the 319th Reconnaissance Wing at Grand Forks Air Force Base. It was a special treat to show the base and its people off to Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General Jim Slife," Cramer wrote on Facebook and X. "It provided us a lot of time to discuss the very bright future of North Dakota's Air Force Bases as we imagined new ways to position GFAFB, Minot Air Force Base ... and the 119th Wing North Dakota Air National Guard to meet the growing demands of modern warfare." Hoeven's office issued a Grand Forks-specific release highlighting the senator's focus on several area civilian drone projects, including Project ULTRA and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site's access to restricted Federal Aviation Administration radar data. "Having General Slife here in North Dakota presents a great opportunity to make the case for utilizing our state's expertise in UAS," read a statement attributed to Hoeven. "With Project ULTRA receiving a contract increase in the coming weeks and the unfiltered FAA radar data feed nearly ready to go, we have the pieces in place to meet these critical military needs." Slife, a four-star general who has served as vice chief since December 2023, is second in rank only to Gen. David Alvin. His visit also coincided with the temporary beddown of a squadron of 17 B-1B Lancer bombers from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota.
