In a collaborative effort to boost defences against aerial threats, Oklahoma National Guard leaders met with with state, education and industry partners to discuss counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) technology at the Tulsa Tech campus on November 7.
The gathering brought together representatives from defence organisations, several regional universities, tribal leaders and technology firms specialising in drone technology, to improve interoperability and standardisation in the UAS and C-UAS domains. The meeting was part of an ongoing effort to bring together leaders in the diverse space of UAS, resulting in a new group of experts dubbed the Launched Effects Alliance.
“This is really an unofficial agreement for a broad group of hyper-capable organisations to work together to solve big problems,” Col. Shane Riley, director of the Oklahoma National Guard’s Launched Effects programme said. “In these meetings I’m surrounded by PhD industry leaders, state employees and defence activity decision makers that want to move fast and solve problems.”
Riley said the participants are learning a great deal from one another. “We are focusing on the fundamental skills that soldiers, airmen and leaders will need for the next fight. Drones and robotic systems will have an immense impact on future warfare.”
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Image: Oklahoma Army National Guard Col. Shane Riley, director of the Launched Effects programme during a meeting at the Tulsa Tech campus in Jenks, Oklahoma, Nov. 7, 2024. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Cpl. Danielle Rayon)
