56 replies to this topic

[The Sicatoka]

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.... more may be on its way.

“We have the potential of about $27 million to come to UND and the Grand Forks region,” he said.

http://www.grandfork...mp;section=News

[GeauxSioux]

Surveilance on Northern Border

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CBP plans to open another air branch in Grand Forks, N.D., next summer or fall and the third in Detroit, Mich., probably in fiscal 2008, an agency spokesman said. Two branches were opened in 2004 in Bellingham, Wash., and Plattsburg, N.Y.

[GeauxSioux]

More news on the Northern border surveillance

CBP Unmanned Aircraft to Patrol Northern Border

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection today announced its decision to establish a northern border unmanned aircraft system (UAS) pilot program. Based in Grand Forks, N.D., the pilot program will be established by the end of fiscal year 2007.

"As unmanned aircraft have proven to be effective on our southern border, this first step in North Dakota will lay the foundation to expand UAS operations along the nation's northern border," said Michael Kostelnik, assistant commissioner, CBP Air and Marine. "As Customs and Border Protection expands air operations along the northern tier, the presence of the UAS will further enhance our situational awareness."

CBP decided to establish the pilot program in Grand Forks because of its central location along the northern border. With the program based in Grand Forks, CBP will have the capability to launch UAS operations across the entire northern tier.

[GeauxSioux]

U.S. drones to patrol border

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Never before has the U.S. kept such a close watch over its northern boundary. The move is a response to growing American fears that the entry of even one potential terrorist through Canada could have serious consequences, said Scott Baker. He took over last Friday as Chief Patrol Agent of Customs and Border Protection in Grand Forks, N.D., responsible for guarding the 1,400-kilometre stretch of border between Lake Superior and Montana.

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Washington is working on the UAV project with the North Dakota Air National Guard, based in Fargo, and UND in Grand Forks. Ground controllers in Fargo will conduct Predator missions, but military officials in other places could also guide the remote-controlled drones.

[Bin]

The Sicatoka, on Oct 11 2006, 11:10 AM, said:

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.... more may be on its way.

“We have the potential of about $27 million to come to UND and the Grand Forks region,” he said.

http://www.grandfork...mp;section=News

WTF? Hit the link and the GF Herald comes up with "purchase this article for $1.95"?!!! Who do they think would EVER pay for an article on the net?

[PCM]

Pilots Beware: UAVs Coming To US/Canada Border Region

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It's about to get a lot more crowded in the skies over the United States/Canada border, as the US government is poised to begin flying Predator unmanned surveillance planes along the entire 5,500-mile stretch between the two countries.

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One Canadian defense analyst told the Free Press news of the UAV deployment may surprise other Canadians.

"Didn't we have the longest undefended border for a very, very long time?" said Ian Glenn, chairman of ING Engineering.

"It (the Predator) is just a robot that flies," Glenn added. "And they're going to drive it up and down the border and look for things. Will that be a deterrent to criminal activity? Yes. Will it be a deterrent to terrorist activity? Yes, I guess."

A ringing endorsement, that...

[The Sicatoka]

Big UAV goings-on in Grand Forks this week:

Unmanned intersection

UND markets its role in aviation's future

I like the sound of

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Activity related to the realignment of Grand Forks Air Force Base, which focuses on Predator and Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles, could cross paths with an unmanned aircraft Center of Excellence at UND.

Those two assets will mingle with federal Homeland Security's plans to use Predators as part of operations at five Northern Border Air Wings, one of which will be in Grand Forks.

The future of aviation is at UND.

[GeauxSioux]

First flight

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UND and Raytheon are teaming up to fly an unmanned aircraft in restricted airspace west of Grand Forks this week, an event one UND official says will be a first for North Dakota.

According to Al Palmer, director of flight operations at the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, the flight will be the state's first unmanned aircraft system launch. Representatives from the school's aviation and engineering schools will help fly a Raytheon Cobra UAS at Camp Grafton South near Devils Lake, a facility used by both the North Dakota Air and Army National Guard.

The future of aviation is indeed at UND.

[GeauxSioux]

State's first drone flight successful

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University of North Dakota and defense and aircraft giant Raytheon Company have launched an unmanned aircraft in the state.

U-N-D spokesman Peter Johnson says the drone flew for about 25 minutes yesterday and is going up again today in the Camp Grafton area.

Congratulations to UND Aerospace!!

[star2city]

The Sicatoka, on Mar 27 2007, 01:09 PM, said:

Big UAV goings-on in Grand Forks this week:

Unmanned intersection

UND markets its role in aviation's future

Although unrelated to UAV's, Cirrus' announcement yesterday of a "family" jet, could have implications for an emerging aerospace industry in GF:

CIRRUS Unveils ''The-Jet''

Star&Sickle:  Cirrus plans a family-size jet

[GeauxSioux]

More aerial drones coming soon to U.S. borders

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In September, CBP plans to inaugurate one of the flying machines at an operations center in Grand Forks, N.D., and in November, it plans to accept a second UAV as part of its southwestern fleet.

[GeauxSioux]

Grand Forks border patrol to get drone next spring

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Grand Forks) GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) The new federal Customs and Border Patrol air branch in Grand Forks will start using a drone to patrol the northern border next spring.

Senator Kent Conrad says the first of four aircraft will arrive in Grand Forks around April 15th.

Conrad briefed border agents yesterday on a federal Homeland Security bill headed for a House-Senate conference committee.

A formal opening of the new northern border air wing at the Grand Forks airport is set for September 22nd. Conrad says it'll be an operational hub.

He says 85 agents will be added to help guard the 861 border miles in the Grand Forks district.

He says the southern border has some 12,000 agents, or about 12 times as many as the northern border.

[GeauxSioux]

OUR OPINION : The Kettering Bug and the humble origin of UAVs

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Unmanned aerial vehicles' local prospects gained even more altitude last week with the news that Grand Forks will headquarter the federal government's efforts to patrol America's northern border with UAVs.

Congratulations to Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and others for this dramatic upgrade in our regional mission. The change accelerates Grand Forks' emergence as a national leader in this amazing industry.

Speaking of which, let's take a quick look at that industry's ever-brightening near future as well as its somewhat checkered distant past.

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Sounds like a good industry for Grand Forks and UND to be involved in.

[GeauxSioux]

Big fight over control of the UAV's between the Army and Air Force...DoD’s England will soon settle Pentagon turf battle on drones

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After the most recent Pentagon base realignment and closure round, North Dakota lost Air National Guard F-16 fighter jet missions in Fargo. In order not to lose people, North Dakota and in particular Grand Forks Air Base could stand to attract more UAV work. The Air Force envisions Grand Forks to house a series of UAVs.

But Dorgan argues that his fight is not about jobs, but about eliminating duplication and waste. “We are already going to have UAVs assigned to North Dakota,” Dorgan said. He added he would like to see reform within the Pentagon.

In recent congressional hearings, Dorgan questioned the need for the Army to pursue the Sky Warrior. The Army has had to defend its Warrior medium-altitude UAV program, which critics — including the Government Accountability Office — have said is too similar to the Air Force’s Predator UAV.

Go Air Force!!

[GeauxSioux]

HIGHER EDUCATION: UAS lands at UND aerospace

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Two unmanned aerial system planes landed Friday at UND's Odegard Hall - one of them smack in the middle of Aerospace Dean Bruce Smith's desktop.

The Canadian-designed CropCam has a wingspan of about eight feet, enough to extend just beyond the edges of Smith's desk, where it was displayed Friday to members of the media.

The drone aircraft runs about four feet from nose to tail. That's about one-seventh the size of the Predator UAS, which should arrive at the Grand Forks Air Force Base this spring to patrol the Canadian border.

[GeauxSioux]

University of North Dakota expecting new UAV

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The University of North Dakota is unveiling a new unmanned aerial vehicle.

UND officials say the so-called "Super Hauler" is designed to track people and vehicles. It could be used for search and rescue missions and flood control, among other things.

[GeauxSioux]

UND Aerospace Announces Unmanned Aircraft System Fly Days

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The University of North Dakota (UND) John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences will be flying its own Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) at Camp Grafton South on July 29, 31 and August 1, 2008. UND Aerospace will be flying the CropCam, a six-pound UAS that was designed for agricultural uses.....  

UAS flights should start about 1000 AM and go until 4 PM weather permitting. Flights may go later if weather delays the early flights. The site location is 8870 Highway 15, Building 9165, which is behind the M60 range.

[GeauxSioux]

ND governor: Univ. has share in defense contract

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Gov. John Hoeven says the University of North Dakota is part of an Air Force contract totaling near $50 million that involves unmanned aerial vehicles.

Hoeven says UND's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center will train pilots to operate the unmanned systems. He says private sector partners in the contract are Crew Training International Inc., Science Applications International Corp., XVionics Inc. and BGI LLC.

[GeauxSioux]

Air Force plans unmanned aerial systems training at UND

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Officials say as many as 400 Air Force pilots a year will go through a training program for unmanned aerial systems, and it will involve UND.

UND and its partners were among eight teams vying for the contract.

[GeauxSioux]

UND to train as many as 400 UAS instructor pilots a year

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Beginning in September 2009, UND will launch the first undergraduate program in unmanned aerial systems to Air Force standards. The program will produce prime candidates for postgraduate Predator training.

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“In short, the UAS world is exploding,” said CTI’s Mullen. “New missions are being discovered continually as older weapons systems approach the end of their service life. UND Aerospace involvement with Predator and the UAS Center of Excellence here in North Dakota represents brilliant anticipation and positioning for many opportunities to come.”