The Remote Split Operation facility is part of the company’s Flight Test & Training Center and will support its existing contractor-owned, contractor-operated MQ-9A lease. General Atomics announced the opening at an October 30 ceremony attended by Hoeven and company CEO Linden Blue.
“General Atomics is moving pilots from Africa to Grand Forks to remotely fly their missions for AFRICOM,” Hoeven said. “Doing so makes perfect sense, and that’s why we worked through the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee to make it happen.”
The company said Hoeven’s office helped establish the North Dakota support center. Hoeven said the operation would also broaden the state’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities.
“We’re excited to establish this new facility in North Dakota,” Blue said. “Setting up our remote flight operations here in North Dakota will allow us to decrease the number of personnel required overseas, significantly reducing the cost of the COCO to the U.S. government and, more importantly, significantly increase the safety for our personnel.”
The facility will support remote flight operations for the U.S. Department of War under the Africa Command arrangement. Blue said it would bring approximately 50 well-paying jobs to the Grand Forks community.
