Challenge ULTRA to Revolutionize DoD Logistics and Site visitors Administration with Superior UAS Expertise
by DRONELIFE Workers Author Ian J. McNabb
Grand Forks County, situated in jap North Dakota, not too long ago introduced a brand new strategic partnership with GrandSKY, an area UAV-specific enterprise growth space situated at Grand Forks Air Drive Base. Referred to as Challenge ULTRA, (UAS Logistics, Site visitors, Analysis, and Autonomy), the brand new partnership goals to enhance the UAS capabilities of the Division of Protection (DOD). These efforts are supported by Senator John Hoeven and aligned with the strategic objectives of the Workplace of the Below Secretary of Protection for Acquisition & Sustainment (OUSD(A&S)).
Involving federal and personal entities together with NASA, the Air Drive Analysis Laboratory, and MITRE, Challenge ULTRA goals to make use of UAS expertise to revolutionize logistics and visitors administration inside the Nationwide Airspace System.
“We’re very happy for Grand Forks County to be part of Challenge ULTRA,” mentioned David Engen, Chairman, Grand Forks County Fee. “This contract builds on the investments the County has made in GrandSKY and displays the vested curiosity the County has in base retention and supporting the women and men who work and serve at Grand Forks AFB. We’re additionally happy that the County can present this service and assist the workforce that may execute on this work.”
In accordance with the press launch, the challenge, contracted by Washington Headquarters Providers, is structured beneath a 5-year Indefinite Supply/Indefinite Amount (ID/IQ) contract with a most ceiling of $18.25 million. Job orders can be issued to outline particular tasks and funding particulars, with Job Order 01 valued at $2,480,281, set to begin on/about Could 29, 2024, and conclude by September 30, 2024.
Key Goals of Challenge ULTRA:
- Improve airspace situational consciousness and visitors administration inside the NAS via testing and analysis of UTM and different visitors administration methods.
- Develop dependable, replicable, and scalable logistical and provide supply methods to distant navy places.
- Make the most of Past Visible-Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) capabilities to create scalable service fashions for varied DoD installations.
- Combine Small UAS (sUAS) capabilities to enhance the standard of life for navy personnel and their households.
- Develop sustainable and scalable Counter UAS (cUAS) applied sciences to boost bodily safety measures at navy services and to combine cUAS applied sciences with visitors administration.
The challenge goals to make the most of North Dakota’s well-developed UAS infrastructure and align the pursuits of a number of organizations to realize their operational objectives. The Northern Plains UAS Take a look at Website (NPUASTS), a frontrunner in autonomous expertise options, will present vital assist in flight route modeling, UAS choice, and FAA coordination.
“On behalf of GrandSKY, we’re grateful for this chance and looking out ahead to working with a really succesful workforce,” mentioned Tom Swoyer, President, GrandSKY. “We recognize Grand Forks County stepping up and supporting this effort and we’ll construct on our already very sturdy partnership with the Northern Plains Take a look at Website. We stay up for leveraging our present capabilities to speed up the event of UAS-based supply options, counter-UAS, and in the end integrating all of it with state-of-the-art UAS visitors administration.”
“We’re excited to work with our companions on Challenge ULTRA to operationalize these vital missions for the Division of Protection,” mentioned Trevor Woods, Government Director, Northern Plains UAS Take a look at Website. “Our work will result in essential enhancements in logistics and visitors administration, and with our workforce’s prior expertise enabling Past Visible-Line-of-Sight (BVLOS), we’re persevering with to speed up capabilities for business and protection.”
Extra data on the GrandSky challenge is on the market right here.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, an expert drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone business and the regulatory atmosphere for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles targeted on the industrial drone area and is a world speaker and acknowledged determine within the business. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising and marketing for brand new applied sciences.
For drone business consulting or writing, E-mail Miriam.
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