<p style="margin-left:0px;">Senator John Hoeven outlined to Gen. James Slife, Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, opportunities to leverage the Grand Forks region’s expertise in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to enhance national security and address the increasing risks from the misuse of drone technology. In particular, Hoeven highlighted:</p><ul><li>His efforts to secure an increased contract ceiling for Project ULTRA, which is expected in the coming weeks.<ul><li>Hoeven has been working to increase the size and scope of Project ULTRA to support counter-UAS technology development.</li><li>Project ULTRA can serve as a bridge between an existing DoD contracting vehicle and new counter-UAS capabilities being developed in the private sector.</li></ul></li><li>The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) unfiltered radar data feed, which is in the process of being linked with the Northern Plains UAS Test Site.<ul><li>Once completed, it will use the feed to enhance efforts to detect, identify and track malicious UAS.</li><li>Between Project ULTRA and the FAA radar data, Grand Forks will be uniquely positioned to develop methods for protecting domestic U.S. military bases&nbsp;against potential UAS threats.</li></ul></li><li>Efforts to bring a future intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) mission to Grand Forks Air Force Base.<ul><li>As a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, Hoeven is working to ensure the military has sufficient ISR capacity to support warfighters across the globe.</li><li>The senator is advancing both airborne and space-based missions as opportunities to expand ISR operations in Grand Forks.</li></ul></li></ul><p style="margin-left:0px;">“The Grand Forks region offers capabilities and capacity, unlike anywhere else, to address emerging national defense concerns. That includes protecting against the malicious use of drones, as well as leveraging the Grand Forks Air Force base’s longstanding excellence in ISR and its newfound leadership in satellite operations to ensure we have adequate intelligence operations, whether in the air or space, to meet the needs of our military across the globe,” said Hoeven. “Having General Slife here in North Dakota presents a great opportunity to make the case for utilizing our state’s expertise in UAS. 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.”</p>

2025-02-19 - Hoeven Outlines National Security, Counter-UAS Opportunities in Grand Forks to Air Force Vice Chief of Staff (UAS Magazine)

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Senator John Hoeven outlined to Gen. James Slife, Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, opportunities to leverage the Grand Forks region’s expertise in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to enhance national security and address the increasing risks from the misuse of drone technology.

Hoeven Outlines National Security, Counter-UAS Opportunities in Grand Forks to Air Force Vice Chief of Staff

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