AeroVironment is collaborating with GrandSKY, a North Dakota-based unmanned aerial system (UAS) developer, to implement “Limited Area Defense” anti-drone technology at Grand Forks Air Force Base. This initiative is part of the broader “Golden Dome for America” defense strategy aimed at enhancing security against malicious drone activity.
The installation will utilize AeroVironment’s advanced detection and tracking systems, known as Titan and Titan-SV, which operate using radio signals to detect and identify drones from significant distances. These systems will be integrated with the company’s AV_Halo Command software, allowing for a consolidated, real-time surveillance view of the aerial environment around the base.
The primary objective of this partnership is to bolster defenses against hostile drones and other aerial threats targeting military and infrastructure sites in the United States. The technology aims to enable rapid detection, tracking, and response capabilities for operators facing potential aerial threats, even at ranges beyond visual sight.
AeroVironment’s larger Limited Area Defense initiative also involves collaboration with aerospace and defense firm SNC. Together, they are developing an open architecture defense system that will encompass various technologies, including sensors, directed energy, radio frequency resources, and electronic warfare strategies, to counter threats ranging from small UAS to cruise missiles.
This deployment follows a memorandum of understanding signed in March between AeroVironment and GrandSKY under Project Unmanned Logistics, Traffic, Research and Autonomy (ULTRA). Project ULTRA is a significant public-private partnership, funded at $110 million and supported by North Dakota Senator John Hoeven, with the aim of establishing Grand Forks as a national test center for counter-UAS defense technologies.
GrandSKY currently operates a 217-acre testing and training park at the base, integrating AeroVironment’s AV_Halo software into its operations to enhance airspace awareness and safety during long-range flights. Senator Hoeven emphasized the location’s potential, stating that North Dakota is a premier site for developing both UAS applications and protective measures against drone misuse. He highlighted the urgent need for such capabilities, citing recent conflicts in Israel and Ukraine as examples of drone warfare’s evolving and dangerous nature.
The Senator expressed appreciation for AeroVironment’s commitment to the GrandSKY facility, recognizing the significant role its technology will play in fortifying defenses against emerging threats in the aerial domain.
