FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 21, 2017
New facility anchors nation’s first commercial UAS business park
(GRAND FORKS, N.D.) – April 21, 2017 – Global security company Northrop Grumman held a ribbon cutting event today to officially mark the start of operations at its 36,000-square-foot facility located at Grand Sky. The company is a major provider of systems and technology to the U.S. Air Force, including the RQ-4 Global Hawk, a large autonomous aircraft system which is used at nearby Grand Forks Air Force Base. Northrop Grumman was the first tenant to sign a lease at Grand Sky and broke ground for its facility on Oct. 15, 2015.
“Congratulations are very much in order to Northrop Grumman for its continued commitment to moving the UAS industry forward,” says Thomas Swoyer Jr., president of Grand Sky Development Company. “They recognized early on the unique synergies that Grand Sky offers for experienced UAS firms who are moving to bridge the gap between military and commercial uses, and now they can begin to capitalize on that foresight. We look forward to continuing to support their efforts and watching as they take UAS applications to new heights.”
Northrop Grumman intends to use its Grand Sky facility primarily for research and development, aircrew and maintenance training, operations and mission analysis, along with aircraft maintenance. The facility is positioned in an anchor space along the alert pad at Grand Sky, which allows quick access to the Grand Forks Air Force Base runway for launch and recovery operations. Through Grand Sky, the company will also have ongoing access to assistance from the Northern Plains UAS Test Site when needed, flight logistics support from InnoVets, collaborative opportunities with other UAS entities at the park and throughout North Dakota, and perhaps most importantly, ready access to a skilled workforce through the state’s many UAS training programs.
“We are delighted to officially begin operations here at Grand Sky cementing our leadership in the development and use of autonomous systems in partnership with North Dakota’s UAS community,” said Janis Pamiljans, corporate vice president and president Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. “The important work performed at Grand Sky will support the evolving needs of our customers while advancing research and development of our autonomous systems capabilities for today and the future.”
Northrop Grumman leadership, state officials and stakeholders celebrate the official opening of its research and development facility at Grand Sky on April 21, 2017.
About Grand Sky
Grand Sky is the first commercial UAS-focused business park in the United States. Located Grand Forks Air Force Base near Grand Forks, N.D., the 217-acre business and aviation park provides unmanned aerial systems (UAS) industry tenants with unmatched testing amenities, including authorization for large UAS BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) flights in partnership with the Northern Plains UAS Test Site. Grand Sky offers 1.2 million square feet of hangar, office, shop, laboratory and data center space available on a build-to-suit basis with financing available. For more information, visit grandskynd.com.
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