General Atomics signs lease for Grand Forks drone tech park - Washington Times
North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven announced Monday that General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. has signed a 10-year lease agreement to establish a drone training academy at the Grand Sky facility.
The company is planning a 16,000-square-foot hangar to house three aircraft that will be used to train up to 60 flight crews a year.
North Dakota Claims Largest UAS Test Site | Aero-News Network
in 2014, North Dakota became the first mission-ready test site chosen by the FAA to assist in research integrating unmanned aircraft with manned aircraft into the national airspace. North Dakota alone has invested $22.5 million into the test site to advance research and development for the commercialization of UAS, and will be investing an additional $10 million further between now and 2017. In addition, the state’s ‘Research ND’ program will offers $5 million biannually in grants for research and development to organizations and companies involved in UAS research through cooperation with the University of North Dakota (UND) and North Dakota State University (NDSU).
“North Dakota is attracting innovative thinkers in UAS technology, creating jobs and expanding this important industry,” said Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley, who also serves as chairman of the Northern Plains Unmanned Systems Authority. “The momentum our state has gained in the past year alone, in cooperation with the FAA, shows again that we are the premier location for the advancement of UAS.”
In February, the Grand Forks Air Force Base officially signed an Extended Use Lease Agreement that will allow for the development of the nation’s very first UAS business park, Grand Sky. Governor Jack Dalrymple has already appropriated $2.5 million in state funds to further develop the 1.2 million square-foot UAS aerospace and technology park, with plans ahead for further annual investment. Grand Sky is estimated to eventually house 3,000 collaborating innovators for the advancement of UAS technology, including anchor tenant Northrop Grumman - who just signed a formal lease agreement and will break ground on its new facility at Grand Sky in September.
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