Predator UAV Joins Red River Flood Fight

The national spotlight has been focused recently on Fargo-Moorhead’s battle with the rising Red river. One of the relatively unsung heroes in the flood fight is a Predator UAV operated by Customs and Border Protection, stationed at the Grand Forks Air Force Base. The Predator B unmanned aircraft has given emergency officials a bird’s-eye view of ice jams, bridges and rising and receding floodwaters up and down the Red River Valley. Radar images from the Predator also are helpful, as the unmanned aircraft can take photos for several days in a row to monitor changes in water levels and ice jams. According to a Grand Forks Herald report the images and video deliver a pretty big wow factor.

A Bold New Future is Emerging in the Red River Valley

A bold new future is emerging in the Grand Forks region and the Red River Valley Research Corridor as UAS operations of the Air Force, Customs and Border Protection and the North Dakota Air National Guard begin to ramp up.

Deployments of Predator and Global Hawk aircraft will be bolstered by world-class UA pilot training programs at the University of North Dakota’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences and exciting engineering and technology development initiatives at the School of Engineering and Mines. Many of these university programs and initiatives are collaborations with businesses in electronics, software, training, and advanced materials with many future joint projects on the horizon.

The vision and commitment of the community, region and state to the future of UAS is both forward looking and determined. Leadership at all levels – from the Congressional delegation, the governor and state, county and city leaders – is vigorously supporting military and civilian uses. A Community Base Enhancement Initiative – led by the City and County – is looking for ways and making resources available to accelerate the development of the UAS industry.

A bold new future of UAS is taking off right here in the Red River Valley Research Corridor.