The North Dakota Department of Commerce and Thales, an air traffic management company, recently agreed to further expand the first statewide Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Network in the United States.
“The partnership between Thales and North Dakota in the BVLOS development is a significant step towards advancing autonomous technologies,” North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Josh Teigen said. “This collaboration will further enhance the safe, secure, and efficient integration of UAS into the U.S. and national airspace. Perhaps most importantly, this agreement allows the state of North Dakota and Thales to work collaboratively to monetize the investments made by both parties over the several years leading up to this monumental agreement.”
Vantis, North Dakota’s statewide Unmanned Aircraft Systems Network, will use radar, radios, and other communications equipment on towers to provide command, control, and situational awareness to UAS pilots. This will allow UAS pilots to fly safely at a distance and see and avoid obstacles.
Over the past two years, $48 million has been invested in Vantis.
The agreement also formalizes the strategic relationship between North Dakota, Thales, and the Northern Plains Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Test Site, an official Federal Aviation Administration designed UAS test site.