In First, North Dakota UAS Test Site Plugs Into FAA Radar Data

State’s Vantis network for UAS traffic management is using unfiltered radar data straight from the FAA.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, March 03, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

North Dakota’s Northern Plains UAS Test Site is the first nonfederal entity to gain access to unfiltered FAA radar data. [Credit: Thales]

Key Takeaways:

North Dakota has pioneered uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) integration, becoming the first nonfederal entity to manage drones using unfiltered FAA radar data via its Vantis network.
This innovative statewide UAS traffic management system provides a safe, real-world environment for testing critical capabilities like Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.
The state's unique partnership with the FAA and a secure data enclave (facilitated by partners like Thales) establishes North Dakota as a national model for advanced UAS traffic management.
This successful framework is intended for replication, with the FAA Reauthorization Act including provisions to expand similar radar data access to other states and qualified entities.

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North Dakota is taking the lead on integrating uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS)—from small drones to self-flying air taxis—through a first-of-its-kind arrangement with the FAA.

The state’s Northern Plains UAS Test Site—which oversees Vantis, a statewide UAS traffic management network—is now managing uncrewed drones using unfiltered data straight from the state’s four FAA radars, becoming the first nonfederal entity with that kind of access.