Grand Forks County, in collaboration with GrandSKY, is excited to announce the launch of Project ULTRA (UAS Logistics, Traffic, Research, and Autonomy), an innovative initiative aimed at enhancing the Department of Defense's (DoD) capabilities through advanced unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technology. This groundbreaking project is supported by Senator John Hoeven and aligns with the strategic goals of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment (OUSD(A&S)).
Project ULTRA is a collaborative effort involving federal organizations and private entities such as NASA, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and MITRE. The initiative aims to revolutionize logistics and traffic management within the National Airspace System (NAS) by leveraging state-of-the-art UAS technology.
"We are very pleased for Grand Forks County to be a part of Project ULTRA,” said David Engen, Chairman, Grand Forks County Commission. “This contract builds on the investments the County has made in GrandSKY and reflects the vested interest the County has in base retention and supporting the men and women who work and serve at Grand Forks AFB. We are also pleased that the County can provide this service and support the team that will execute on this work."
The project, contracted by Washington Headquarters Services, is structured under a 5-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract with a maximum ceiling of $18.25 million. Task orders will be issued to define specific projects and funding details, with Task Order 01 valued at $2,480,281, set to commence on/about May 29, 2024, and conclude by September 30, 2024.
Key Objectives of Project ULTRA:
• Enhance airspace situational awareness and traffic management within the NAS through testing and evaluation of UTM and other traffic management systems.
• Develop reliable, replicable, and scalable logistical and supply delivery systems to remote military locations.
• Utilize Beyond Visual-Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) capabilities to create scalable service models for various DoD installations.
• Integrate Small UAS (sUAS) capabilities to improve the quality of life for military personnel and their families.
• Develop sustainable and scalable Counter UAS (cUAS) technologies to enhance physical security measures at military facilities and to integrate cUAS technologies with traffic management.
Project ULTRA is a strategic, pivotal step in advancing national security and operational efficiency of small UAS operations. By bringing together leading organizations in UAS innovation, this project will push the boundaries of UAS technology and traffic management. It will also capitalize on North Dakota’s leadership in UAS innovation, leveraging the state's unique UAS ecosystem and the established capabilities of Grand Forks AFB and GrandSKY.
“On behalf of GrandSKY, we are grateful for this opportunity and looking forward to working with a very capable team,” said Tom Swoyer, President, GrandSKY. “We appreciate Grand Forks County stepping up and supporting this effort and we will build on our already very strong partnership with the Northern Plains Test Site. We look forward to leveraging our current capabilities to accelerate the development of UAS-based delivery solutions, counter-UAS, and ultimately integrating it all with state-of-the-art UAS traffic management.”
The collaboration between Grand Forks County, GrandSKY, and other key partners ensures a comprehensive approach to advancing UAS technology. The Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NPUASTS), a leader in autonomous technology solutions, will provide critical support in flight route modeling, UAS selection, and FAA coordination.
“We are excited to work with our partners on Project ULTRA to operationalize these critical missions for the Department of Defense,” said Trevor Woods, Executive Director, Northern Plains UAS Test Site. “Our work will lead to important improvements in logistics and traffic management, and with our team’s prior experience enabling Beyond Visual-Line-of-Sight (BVLOS), we are continuing to accelerate capabilities for industry and defense.”
Project ULTRA is expected to set new standards in the UAS industry, driving innovation and establishing benchmarks for the integration of UAS into the national airspace. The initiative will provide tangible benefits to the DoD, ensuring reliable and efficient supply delivery to remote locations, improving mission readiness, and advancing technological capabilities in unmanned systems.
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