Unmanned Aerial Vehicles SubCluster
UAVs have proven to be a critical defense resource to serve as part of national defense efforts and as a tool to counteract terrorism. One of the challenges to use of UAVs is that they must be able to fly safely in the same airspace as piloted aircraft. NMSU’s UAV program provides DoD with the unique short- and long-range operations capability to support testing of UAV platforms and systems in civil airspace on a routine basis. NMSU plans to expand its UAV flights to greater distances and to acquire a mid-sized UAV for these flights as well as for technology development and validation.