GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KFGO/KNOX) – A tech company in Grand Forks has received over a million dollars to develop an unmanned aerial system to bolster security around the perimeter of Grand Forks Air Force Base.
Thread – formerly known as Airtonomy – received $1.2 million as part of the Air Force Small Business Innovation Research program. They will work with the 319 Security Forces Squadron – the unit that deploys teams to manually patrol the perimeter.
Officials said patrolling the perimeter is time consuming and takes attention away from other force protection activities.
The award was announced by Sen. John Hoeven a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee.
“This project is all about enhancing the mission of the 319 Security Forces Squadron – improving the safety of their working conditions and streamlining their operations,” Hoeven said. “We’re working to ensure this critical base is secure against threats and can continue to support the unmanned ISR missions that our warfighters depend on.”
Thread will develop an autonomous flight routine for the base’s security forces.
