The National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State and Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems announced July 20 a landmark strategic partnership designed to position Kansas as the nation’s leading hub for Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations, uncrewed aircraft system testing, advanced aerial mobility and autonomous flight development.
“Kelly Hills offers access to nearly 49,000 square miles of airspace, a robust detect‑and‑avoid architecture, and a growing roster of commercial and government users,” said John Tomblin, WSU executive vice president for Research and Industry and Defense Programs and NIAR executive director. “Combined with NIAR’s engineering depth and industry relationships, we are creating a national asset that accelerates innovation and commercialization.”
