03/21/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/21/2023 11:37
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today addressed the University of North Dakota's (UND) Stratospheric Operations and Research Symposium (SOaRS), where he discussed how North Dakota can help enhance national security through missions in the stratosphere, which is approximately between 12 and 32 miles above the Earth's surface. In particular, the senator highlighted the state's leadership in unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which when operated in the stratosphere could have:
These capabilities would provide the Department of Defense (DoD) with new opportunities to gather intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)information and enhance and improve the resiliency of military communications. The senator stressed that North Dakota is well-positioned in both of these priorities due to the leadership of the Grand Forks Air Force Base in Air Force ISR operations, the new low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite mission that Hoeven worked to bring to the base and the Red River Valley's unique UAS ecosystem.
"The line between airspace and actual space is becoming blurred," said Hoeven. "Between the Sky Range program at Grand Sky, Global Hawk operations and the LEO satellite mission, North Dakota is playing a major role in the future of our nation's defense. The stratosphere offers even more opportunities to enhance that security, and it's no surprise that UND is taking a leading role this effort, in part with the symposium they're holding today with guests not only from across levels of our government, but leaders in this sector from around the world."
Hoeven's remarks build upon a meeting he held with leaders from the Grand Forks community, UND and the area's UAS industry, where he:
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