Aircraft Will Enhance CBP’s Northern Border Security Mission

Tuesday morning, federal and state dignitaries opened the US Customs and Border Protection Unmanned Aircraft Operations Center of North Dakota, bringing enhanced security operations to the US-Canada border.

CBP Air and Marine Assistant Commissioner Maj. Gen. Michael C. Kostelnik (Ret. USAF), North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven, US Sen. Byron Dorgan and US Rep. Earl Pomeroy officially opened the facility at Grand Forks Air Force Base.

"The expansion of the unmanned aircraft program to the northern border represents a significant step forward in our border security efforts, using this proven, effective technology to support our officers and agents along the border," said Kostelnik. "This critical mission asset will bring a new high tech approach to the border security mission and will enhance our valuable partnerships with Canadian and US law enforcement entities."

"This new Unmanned Aircraft Operations Center will provide critical new capabilities to the agents who keep watch over our northern border, as well as a boost to our effort to establish the Grand Forks community as a hub of UAV activity," Senator Dorgan said. "This is a long, unprotected border, and if we're going to keep it secure, we need to make use of cutting-edge technology such as UAVs. That’s why I worked in the Senate Appropriations Committee to stand up this new Air Branch as quickly as we could."

CBP says its Air and Marine's unmanned aircraft systems reduce the number of personnel required to gain operational control of the border. They assist other law enforcement agencies upon request. Once fully staffed with an annual budget of $2.7 million the facility will employ close to 50 federal employees and contractors. 

Built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems in San Diego, CBP's unmanned aircraft, the MQ-9 Predator B, is capable of flying at speeds of up to 260 miles per hour for more than 18 hours at altitudes up to 50,000 feet. The aircraft is equipped with the state-of-the-art Raytheon electro-optical sensors.

The aircraft and crews support the CBP priority mission of anti-terrorism as well as homeland security and disaster relief efforts. The remotely-piloted Predator B allows CBP Air and Marine personnel to safely conduct missions in areas that are difficult to access by CBP personnel on the ground.

"The North Dakota Air Branch is a tremendous partner for law enforcement and emergency services in North Dakota and across the region," Hoeven said. "The recent CBP addition of the UAV Predator further enhances our efforts to make Grand Forks a center for unmanned aviation."

Nationally, CBP faces the challenge of interdicting criminal and terrorist exploitation of international passenger and cargo movements into the United States at 327 air, land and sea ports of entry and 15 pre-clearance locations overseas. Between northern border ports of entry, eight Border Patrol sectors protect against the illegal cross-border entry of people and contraband along the northern 3,995 miles of border.

FMI: www.cbp.gov