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.