Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Martin UAV Announce Collaboration to Test Current and Future Martin UAV Platforms

Choctaw Nation Photo

Martin UAV team pictured with the V-BAT at the Choctaw Nation test range.

Published April 22, 2021

DURANT, Okla. — The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) and Martin UAV, a leading advanced aviation technology manufacturer in the United States, established an agreement for Martin UAV to begin testing the V-BAT system at the CNO test site location in rural southeastern Oklahoma.

CNO, Martin UAV and their partners will work with the FAA and other federal agencies to enhance emerging aviation technologies and operations to help the United States retain a global leadership position in aviation technology.

“The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is excited to collaborate with Martin UAV as we continue to foster an environment for innovation and collaboration,” states James Grimsley, Executive Director of Advanced Technology Initiatives with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. “Martin UAV is a recognized industry leader, especially for the defense industry, and this relationship allows us to explore new possibilities and applications for this technology.”

“Martin UAV is excited to partner with the CNO to help support the ongoing development and safe integration efforts of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System,” said Jonathan Jacobs, Director of Flight Operations.

About the UAS IPP Program

The Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Integration Pilot Program (IPP) is an opportunity for state, local, and tribal governments to partner with private sector entities, such as UAS operators or manufacturers, to accelerate safe UAS integration. The program will help the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) craft new enabling rules that allow more complex low-altitude UAS operations by:

Identifying ways to balance local and national interests related to UAS integration
Improving communications with local, state and tribal jurisdictions
Addressing security and privacy risks
Accelerating the approval of operations that currently require special authorizations

The program is expected to foster a meaningful dialogue on the balance between local and national interests related to UAS integration, and provide actionable information to the USDOT on expanded and universal integration of UAS into the National Airspace System.

About the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

The Choctaw Nation is the third-largest Indian Nation in the United States with more than 225,000 tribal members and 12,000-plus associates. This ancient people has an oral tradition dating back over 13,000 years. The first tribe over the Trail of Tears, its historic reservation boundaries are in the southeast corner of Oklahoma, covering 10,923 square miles. The Choctaw Nation's vision, "Living out the Chahta Spirit of faith, family and culture," is evident as it continues to focus on providing opportunities for growth and prosperity. For more information about the Choctaw Nation, its culture, heritage, and traditions, please visit choctawnation.com.

Inquiries

Contact Kristina Humenesky for any media relations needs at [email protected]

About Martin UAV

Martin UAV is a private, advanced technology company based in Plano, TX. The company specializes in building wholly-unique, unmanned aircraft systems and associated flight control software. The company’s systems are commercially developed to fill critical operational needs in tactical & confined operational environments. Its V-BAT series aircraft is the only single-engine ducted fan VTOL that has the ability to launch and recover from a hover, fly over eleven hours in horizontal flight, and make mid-flight transitions to “hover & stare” at any time throughout a given mission set.

Media Inquiries

Contact Ester Peres, Marketing Strategist – Martin UAV, 214-240-6659, [email protected]