Deseret UAS Newsletter

GOVERNOR VISITS TEAL DRONES

Utah Governor Spencer Cox piloting a Teal drone on February 7, 2023 | Credit: Mark Tullis

Utah Governor Spencer Cox recently visited the headquarters of Teal Drones, a Salt Lake City-based drone manufacturer to learn more about engineering, testing, manufacturing, supply chain and compliance for Teal’s military-grade drone products. During the visit, Teal Drones demonstrated its drone technology and highlighted the company's influence on the country's aerospace and defense industries.

Teal Drones is certified as "Blue UAS," a designation awarded to select manufacturers authorized to provide equipment to the U.S. military, and is one of only three drone manufacturers invited to participate in the United States Army's Short Range Reconnaissance Tranche 2 program. Teal Drones has expanded its sales into enterprise and government sectors through the development of military-grade drone products, including the Golden Eagle and Skypersonic.

The Governor's visit was organized by the Utah Aerospace and Defense Association, which is working with the governor’s office, the Utah System of Higher Education and industry leaders to build the world's premier ecosystem for aerospace and defense companies in Utah.

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UTAH LEGISLATURE PASSES AAM LEGISLATION

Senate Bill 161 creates a study for the Utah Department of Transportation regarding Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).

The Utah State Legislature has passed Senate Bill 161, Advanced Air Mobility Revisions sponsored by Utah State Senator Wayne Harper. The bill has been sent to Utah Governor Spencer Cox for signature. The bill requires the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to conduct a study on vertiport locations and infrastructure, implementation strategies for AAM technologies, as well as unmanned traffic management systems and infrastructure.

It also requires UDOT to identify a specific geographic area for testing AAM technologies, including cargo-carrying aerial vehicles, commercial aerial vehicles, and public transportation aerial vehicles. It directs UDOT to engage the public to solicit feedback regarding AAM-related best practices, and to review relevant state and local regulations.

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FORTEM RAISES MILLIONS

The DroneHunter® F700, part of Fortem's SkyDome® product suite, is capable of defeating significant Group-3 threats like the Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone. | Credit: Fortem Technologies, Inc.

Utah-based Fortem Technologies has raised $17.8 million in funding from key industry investors, including Lockheed Martin Ventures and Hanwha Aerospace. This significant investment will help the company scale up to meet the growing demand for airspace safety and security in multiple regions and market sectors.

With the Counter-UAS market expected to reach $4.7 billion by 2027 and the Advanced Air Mobility market projected to hit $45.12 billion by 2030, Fortem's unique airspace awareness, security, and defense technology is in high demand. The company's involvement in protecting venues like the World Cup Games in Qatar and fighting suicide drones in Ukraine highlights its important role in this growing market.

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The Utah Aeronautics Division has announced that the Utah Aeronautics Conference will be held from June 20-22, 2023 at the Davis Conference Center in Layton, UT.

Join hundreds of aviation professionals, state and local officials, mechanics, engineers, planners, students and industry leaders during this three-day event to improve safety, network, share best practices and foster collaboration.

This premier, three-day conference features interactive exhibits, drone racing and package delivery demonstrations, nationally and internationally renowned keynote speakers, mobile tours to the Hill Air Force Base and Museum, networking opportunities, and dozens of breakout sessions.

Early-bird registration of $100 ends on March 31, 2023. Prices increase to $150 for general admission after March. Don't delay- register now!

PROVO CITY AIRPORT EXPANDS

Passengers depart an Allegiant Air flight at the Provo Municipal Airport on Thursday, April 16, 2020.

Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi recently highlighted the growth of Provo Municipal Airport in her 2023 State of the City address, emphasizing its importance to the local economy. There are over 60 flights in and out of Provo each week currently, and the airlines have plans to add more destinations as they expand their operations.

With Allegiant and Breeze Airways announcing more routes and making Provo their home base in Utah, the City is seeking funding for a customs area, new gates, and another runway. The expansion would cost approximately $65 million and would support international routes to resort destinations such as Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

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TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INVESTS $11 BILLION IN UTAH

Texas Instruments Campus in Lehi, Utah | Credit: Texas Instruments

The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah recently announced that Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) plans to build its next 300-millimeter semiconductor wafer fabrication plant in Lehi, Utah. The landmark $11 billion investment is the largest in Utah history. It will create approximately 800 high-paying jobs and thousands of indirect jobs over the next 20 years.

According to TI, Lehi is an ideal location because of its access to skilled talent, robust existing infrastructure and strong network of community partners. The new fab will manufacture tens of millions of analog and embedded processing chips daily for electronics used in nearly every industry, including uncrewed aerial vehicles.

"Our decision to build a second fab in Lehi underscores our commitment to Utah and is a testament to the talented team who will lay the groundwork for another important chapter in TI’s future," said Haviv Ilan, TI executive vice president and chief operating officer, and incoming president and chief executive officer.

This expansion is a significant step forward in manufacturing advanced semiconductors in Utah that are used in drones for autonomous capabilities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, drone manufacturers around the world struggled to meet production schedules as the coronavirus impacted Chinese manufacturing systems and disrupted supply chains for component parts.

“Companies like Texas Instruments continue to invest in Utah because of our world-class business climate and exceptional workforce,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “TI’s new semiconductor factory will solidify Utah as a global semiconductor manufacturing hub for generations to come.”

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ABOUT DESERET UAS

Deseret UAS is a non-profit corporation created jointly by Tooele and Box Elder Counties, in close partnership with Ogden City. As the premier organization in Utah dedicated to Advanced Air Mobililty (AAM), Deseret UAS provides unparalleled access to several large flight test ranges with miles of wide-open land and air. We offer active commercial UAS/AAM flight test ranges, foster applied research, and provide a centralized source of information on AAM in Utah.