In North Dakota, in a first for military Group 3 uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) in the national airspace system (NAS) stands poised to take flight. The place: GrandSKY, the nation’s first commercial UAS flight test and operations center co-located on an active duty Air Force Base. The project: ULTRA (UAS Logistics, Traffic, Response, and Autonomy). The mission: to deliver goods from one military installation to another and back, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) through the NAS, with seamless airspace integration, using innovative airspace awareness solutions, while maintaining a safe and secure environment (think: counter-UAS). It’s a tall order. But GrandSKY President Tom Swoyer Jr., and the Director of Project ULTRA, Chris Hewlett, continue to pioneer a data-driven approach that promises to reshape the future of military UAS operations in North Dakota, across the continental U.S. (CONUS)…and potentially beyond.
The GrandSKY Origin Story: A Vision Realized
GrandSKY’s journey began in 2011 when Grand Forks County sought ways to support Grand Forks Air Force Base after losing its KC-135 tanker mission. Swoyer, recognizing the potential for UAS development, worked with the county to secure an enhanced use lease on the base. This novel arrangement allows GrandSKY to share the base’s 12,351-foot runway and operate as a civilian-controlled airspace adjacent to active military operations.
“We are uniquely positioned,” Swoyer explained. “We’re a UAS-specific flight test center located on Grand Forks Air Force Base. Our partnerships with Grand Forks County, the Air Force and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site create an ecosystem that brings together diverse talents and focused skill sets.”
This ecosystem has flourished over the past decade, including eight years of BVLOS capability. Today, GrandSKY boasts 11,000 square miles of BVLOS airspace. It supports aircraft, crewed and uncrewed from Class 1 through Class 5. A testament to Swoyer’s vision and the collaborative spirit of North Dakota’s UAS community, both Northrop Grumman and General Atomics set up shop as anchors at GrandSKY. Today, according to Swoyer, “269 people call GrandSKY their work home.”
Project ULTRA: Charting New Territories in Military UAS Operations
Ranking high among GrandSKY’s myriad groundbreaking efforts, Project ULTRA aims to change the game for UAS operations, both military and civilian. Specifically, the project will enable a wide range of beneficial UAS capabilities within the military environment for tasks like package delivery, infrastructure inspection and emergency response. These capabilities will not only enhance mission effectiveness but also improve the quality of life for service members.
The end game is to create an enduring capability at Grand Forks AFB, where UAS can be used to solve problems related to manpower and force multiplication. A key element of this vision involves UAS departing the base’s Class D airspace, traversing the NAS BVLOS and returning – to demonstrate full integration of military UAS operations (Class 3) within existing aviation frameworks.
According to Project Lead Hewlett, a retired Navy commander with 30 years of aviation expertise, “Project ULTRA is designed around airspace integration and airspace awareness.” He continued, “We’re creating a framework that’s scalable and repeatable, prioritizing safety and regulatory compliance but with our intent to demonstrate mission effectiveness.”
Although the project’s ambitious goals include developing reliable, scalable capabilities for cargo delivery and other logistics operations, what sets ULTRA apart is its focus on data-driven operations. The ULTRA team plans to leverage a modular open systems architecture (MOSA) of plug-and-play advanced technologies and systems that will enhance safety and efficiency in the NAS.
ASIS: The Heart of ULTRA’s Data-Driven UAS Operations
Central to Project ULTRA is what Swoyer and Hewlett refer to as the “Airspace System Integration Service (ASIS).” A sophisticated platform, it can aggregate data from multiple sensors and systems for both crewed and uncrewed aircraft. As such, ASIS represents a paradigm shift in UAS traffic management (UTM) by creating a more holistic approach to airspace integration.
ASIS mirrors key elements developed in partnership with the Federal UAS Service Suppliers, NASA’s FREDDIE system and the Air Force Research Laboratory’s CLUE. The system also integrates military radar tracks, weather data collected from GrandSKY’s Meteodrone flying weather lab along with other cutting-edge technologies. It’s designed to handle the complexities of mixed airspace, where military and civilian aircraft, crewed and uncrewed, must coexist safely during all operations.
The power of ASIS lies in its data-driven approach. By collecting and analyzing vast amounts of real-time information, from weather conditions to aircraft telemetry, ASIS can provide unprecedented situational awareness. This data-rich environment enables more informed decision-making, critical for safety and operational efficiency for BVLOS flights.
Real-World Testing: From Simulation to Sky
The first phase of Project ULTRA was the “simulation phase.” The primary task for GrandSKY in this initial phase was to “model and simulate a flight from Grand Forks Air Force Base to Cavalier Space Force Station.” The team successfully completed this towards the end of last year.
With the theoretical model proven, the team will next put their data-driven approach to the test with ambitious real-world operations. One of the most exciting initiatives is a planned real-world cargo flight from Grand Forks AFB to Cavalier Space Force Station, which will cover approximately 50 nautical miles each way.
This flight will traverse both Class D and E airspace and remain clear of the omnipresent TFR, a complex challenge for UAS operations. The ULTRA team will leverage ASIS and other data-driven tools, to demonstrate to both the DOD and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) how military UAS can safely and efficiently operate across diverse airspace environments in the NAS, around other traffic.
“We’re not just doing this as a one-off,” Swoyer emphasized. “Our goal is for there to be a parade of drones constantly going back and forth between Cavalier and Grand Forks Air Force Base to improve quality of life and mission capability.”
The data collected from these operations should prove invaluable by providing insights into everything from aircraft performance to airspace management strategies. This real-world data will feed back into ASIS, to continually refine and improve the system’s capabilities.
Project ULTRA’s Initial Operations: Skyways Drones to Take Off
The initial flights for Project ULTRA will take place soon, utilizing two specific UAS models: Skyways V2.6 and Skyways V3.0.
Swoyer noted that GrandSKY “doesn’t pick winners.” The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense ultimately selected Skyways for the project’s first operational flights. The selection of these Skyways drones aligns with the project’s requirements for aircraft capable of carrying a 25-kilogram payload over a 100-kilometer round trip in varying weather conditions. It didn’t hurt that the company already had an active Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award.
The V2.6 model will be used for the initial demonstration flights, scheduled for April 2025. These flights will primarily focus on airspace awareness and familiarization between Grand Forks Air Force Base and GrandSKY in this new context.
Following the April demonstrations, both the V2.6 and V3.0 models are expected to be involved in the cargo delivery flights planned for this July. The V3.0 offers a slightly larger airframe based on the 2.6 design, which allows for a higher cargo capacity. This makes it ideal for the project’s goal of delivering heavier payloads, including medical supplies, to and from Cavalier Space Force Station.
These initial flights will be crucial to validate the application of the ASIS and the selected UAS platforms in a true operational environment that moves well beyond the simulations completed in the project’s first phase.
Beyond Logistics: A Data-Driven Ecosystem
While cargo delivery remains a primary focus of Project ULTRA, its vision extends far beyond logistics. The team is also exploring a wide range of UAS applications, from infrastructure inspection to emergency response. In each case, ASIS and data-driven operations remain at the core.
For example, the project is investigating how drones can be dynamically retasked during flight, shifting from routine missions to emergency response when needed. This capability relies on the power of real-time data analysis and decision-making that ASIS and related technologies bring to the table.
Counter-UAS capabilities are another area where data-driven operations will play a crucial role. By integrating counter-UAS functions into ASIS, the system will distinguish between authorized and unauthorized UAS. This should bolster security without impeding legitimate UAS traffic.
Hewlett explained, “To achieve our vision…we are particularly interested in advanced sensor technologies, ground management systems and tools that can enhance airspace awareness and counter unauthorized UAS activity.”
The Road Ahead: Challenges As Opportunities
As Project ULTRA pushes the boundaries of UAS operations, it admittedly faces numerous challenges. Integrating commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) UAS into military airspace, while ensuring cybersecurity and managing the sheer volume of data generated by these operations are just a few of the hurdles the team must overcome.
Yet, these challenges also present opportunities. The data-driven approach pioneered by GrandSKY and Project ULTRA has the potential to radically change not just military UAS operations, but the entire aviation industry. Demonstrating how data can enhance safety, efficiency and capability, will pave the way for ubiquitous operations of new aerospace entrants, such as UAS and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in North Dakota and elsewhere.
The ULTRA team purposefully designed ASIS, the core of GrandSKY’s data-driven approach, to be sensor-agnostic and location-independent. The system can consume data from virtually any sensor, regardless of its geographic location. Whether the sensor is located in North Dakota, California, or anywhere else in the world, if it can provide relevant data, ASIS can integrate it into its airspace awareness picture. This flexibility is critical to build a truly comprehensive and scalable airspace management solution that can work anywhere, anytime.
A Call for Partners
As Project ULTRA continues to evolve, GrandSKY continues to actively seek partners to join this exciting initiative. “We envision there are going to be dozens of companies participating in some way, and we want to learn more about them all,” Swoyer said.
The team is looking for a wide range of expertise, from additional UAS manufacturers capable of delivering UAS that can carry 50 kilograms over 100 nautical miles, to software developers creating ground management systems for multiple UAS. They’re even interested in hearing from insurance companies about how to manage the risks associated with regular UAS operations.
The door is open for those interested in being part of this one-of-a-kind data-driven initiative in UAS operations. Visit www.projectultra.com to learn more and connect with the team. The future of UAS is being written in the skies over North Dakota, and GrandSKY is inviting innovators from around the world to join them in this exciting journey!
Watch Tom Swoyer and Chris Hewlett on their recent Dawn of Autonomy episode here.
By: Dawn Zoldi (Colonel, USAF Ret.)