The Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE) at Oklahoma State University has launched a Counter-UAS Center of Excellence and a new partnership aimed at strengthening national defense by developing counter-measures to thwart malicious Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
The agreement solidifies OSU’s position as the preferred aerospace defense provider for the U.S. Army base at Fort Sill. The agreement includes receiving $15 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) subcontract from Amentum to help the U.S. Department of Homeland Security develop technology to counter threats from drones and other UAS through the Counter-UAS Center of Excellence (CUAS COE). Amentum is executing this contract under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center’s (DOD IAC) multiple- award contract vehicle.
“By working together, we are setting the national standard for counter-UAS. The possibilities for the future of aerospace at OSU in Oklahoma and for the United States are far reaching and it’s all built on a bedrock constructed from decades of experience,” OSU President Kayse Shrum said. “This center will change what’s possible with national security. It will advance research and strengthen the Oklahoma economy as we merge civilian and military worlds into a partnership that will exponentially improve the mission of both.”
As a part of OAIRE, the center is a vital component of OSU’s aerospace infrastructure, which extends across the state of Oklahoma, Dr. Shrum said.
“We are working with industry and federal agencies to coordinate and evaluate technology to ensure the U.S. retains the lead in UAS and counter-UAS technology for the foreseeable future,” she said.
The partnership announcement was delivered Friday during the launch event celebrating the opening of the national CUAS COE, which was held at the Hamm Institute for American Energy at OSU in the Oklahoma City Innovation District.
The new center was established in partnership with the DOD via the National Defense Authorization Act. The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command contracted with OSU to initiate the CUAS COE with $6.5 million in appropriated funds across FY2021 and FY2022, with $5 million in additional funding pending for FY2023.
As the counter-UAS arm of OSU’s Unmanned Systems Research Institute (USRI), this new center brings together resources and research to place Oklahoma at the forefront of this vital specialty area charged with safeguarding the nation from the weaponization of drones.
This new $15 million contract supporting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) makes OSU’s CUAS COE a multi-agency resource at the federal level, elevating OSU’s national stature and impact.
“What I’ve seen as a soldier from the OSU USRI team — from what’s going to be the Center of Excellence for counter-UAS at OSU — is very encouraging to see the open dialogue, communication, thought and brilliant minds that put a lot of effort and work to solve these problems,”
said Col. Todd Daniels, assistant commandant for the air defense artillery school at Fort Sill.
Formalized in September 2022, the agreement will fund a series of projects at the center for up to $15 million over the course of the next 4½ years.
These projects will involve developing, evaluating and improving technologies for DHS to identify, track and mitigate threats posed by drones to infrastructure and other sites that are critical to homeland security.
They also will involve the training of existing and potential professionals within DHS to understand and deploy counter-UAS technologies and techniques.
At the event, Dr. Jamey Jacob, the current director of the USRI, was named director of OAIRE.
“The Oklahoma aviation aerospace industry has $44 billion of annual economic activity and is the second largest industry in the state behind energy,” Jacob said. “With the advent of the new advanced air mobility industry, Oklahoma has an opportunity to leverage its expertise in aerospace and autonomous systems to lead in the newest and fastest growing field of aviation and secure a global impact throughout the 21st century.”
Photo: From left: OSU Vice President for Research Kenneth Sewell; OSU Senior Vice President of Operations Jerome Loughridge; Dr. Jamey Jacob, director of the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education; Col. Todd Daniels, assistant commandant for the air defense school at Fort Sill; OSU President Kayse Shrum; and U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas at the Hamm Institute for American Energy. (Photo by Gary Lawson, OSU Brand Management)
Source: Press Release