GRAND FORKS — GrandSKY, the nation’s first commercial unmanned aviation systems (UAS) business and aviation park, announced the deployment of counter-uncrewed aircraft system (C-UAS) architecture at Grand Forks Air Force Base on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

This deployment provides the critical first layer of a comprehensive, layered defense system, focusing on the detection, identification, and tracking of unmanned aerial threats. This seamless network of passive sensors and radars provides airspace situational awareness and serves as the beginning of a system that could become a cornerstone for protecting critical infrastructure, according to GrandSKY.

“We are building the future of air defense right here in North Dakota,” GrandSKY President Thomas Swoyer Jr. said. “This deployment directly supports our collaboration with Grand Forks Air Force Base and positions us to be a leader in the development of robust, adaptable defense solutions for the nation.”

This partnership builds on the March 2025 memorandum of understanding between GrandSKY and AV in support of Project ULTRA, a $100 million public-private initiative to establish Grand Forks as the nation’s proving ground for advanced counter-UAS defense.

“Grand Forks continues to play a vital role in strengthening both North Dakota’s economy and America’s national security,” Sen. John Hoeven, R-ND, said. “By leveraging these proven technologies at GrandSKY, we are ensuring our state remains at the forefront of innovation while providing the layered protection our nation needs against rapidly evolving threats.”