Senator Worked to Pass Legislation Creating Radar Data Initiative, Advance System’s Secure Implementation at Northern Plains UAS Test Site
GRAND FORKS, ND – Senator John Hoeven today announced the activation of the Vantis Federal Radar Data Enclave, a secure integration of unfiltered radar data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with the Vantis system at the Northern Plains Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Test Site.
- The test site is the first non-federal entity in the nation to have access to the FAA’s unfiltered radar data feed.
- The enclave establishes North Dakota as the national model for managing UAS traffic in the National Airspace (NAS) and gives three competitive advantages to the state:
- Enables operators to fly UAS beyond visual line of site (BVLOS) statewide, while also allowing for more frequent BVLOS flights.
- Provides capabilities needed to address counter-drone and national security concerns.
- This bolsters efforts like the Point Defense Battle Lab that Hoeven worked to bring to the Grand Forks Air Force Base. The battle lab is focused on protecting domestic military bases against threats arising from the misuse of unmanned aircraft.
- These capabilities are needed to protect critical infrastructure and high-profile events, like the 2026 World Cup and America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
- Creates new opportunities for UAS research and development that are not possible anywhere else in the country.
- The initiative comes as a result of Hoeven’s efforts to pass the 2024 FAA reauthorization bill that included a requirement that the FAA evaluate how its radar data feeds could help integrate UAS into the national airspace.
- Following this, Hoeven worked with then-FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker to set up the program in North Dakota and grant the state’s test site access to the FAA’s radar data.
- Hoeven first announced this agreement between the FAA and the test site at the 2024 UAS Summit.
- The senator has since been supporting efforts by the FAA, the test site and their partners, including the Thales Group, to install the required technology and validate the system’s security with the relevant federal agencies.
“The Vantis Federal Radar Data Enclave cements North Dakota as the most advanced UAS ecosystem in the nation. Federal radar data is one of the most comprehensive sources of airspace awareness available. We recognized that bringing this data feed to our state was essential for raising our UAS and counter-UAS operations to the next level. That’s why we worked to create this initiative through the 2024 FAA reauthorization bill and to set it up in North Dakota,” said Senator Hoeven. “No other state offers this level of capabilities, and it would take years for this type of system to be implemented anywhere else. We appreciate Trevor Woods and his team at the test site, the FAA and the Thales Group and other partners for their efforts to make this initiative a reality.”
“North Dakota is already a top proving ground for UAS technology, and launching the Radar Data Pathfinder program at the Northern Plains UAS Test Site will elevate our position as a hub for UAS innovation to even greater heights,” Gov. Kelly Armstrong said. “This collaboration with the FAA, made possible by the work of Sen. Hoeven and an $11 million investment we approved with the state Legislature last year, will help shape the future of UAS operations in North Dakota and the United States and set the standard for integrating UAS into the national airspace.”
“The Vantis Federal Radar Data Enclave represents a foundational shift in how we approach shared airspace awareness,” said Trevor Woods, Executive Director of the Northern Plains UAS Test Site. “What began as infrastructure to enable scalable BVLOS operations has become something more significant—a governed surveillance backbone that supports both aviation innovation and counter-UAS readiness. This positions North Dakota at the forefront of secure airspace integration.”
“Vantis is a true testament to the magic that can happen when federal government, states and industry work together to innovate,” said Frank McIntosh, Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Organization Chief Operating Officer. “This ground-breaking work marks a significant evolution in the FAA’s data-sharing approach and demonstrates our commitment to safe drone integration without disruption to existing airspace users. As we look ahead to expanded BVLOS operations and increased automation, initiatives like this one provide a practical blueprint.”
“Transforming the future of U.S. airspace starts right here in America and requires partners like Thales, a global high-tech leader in defense, aerospace, cyber and digital, who deliver innovation without compromising security,” said Alan Pellegrini, CEO of Thales North America. “Thales is proud to be a trusted partner of the State of North Dakota in fundamentally changing the way people experience the airspace. Our work on the statewide UAS integration network demonstrates our expertise in delivering safe, secure and proven systems that protect airspace sovereignty and defend against domestic or foreign interference. Our advanced airspace management technologies and robust cybersecurity measures in North Dakota exceed the most stringent operational and cybersecurity requirements in the world for air traffic management networks.”