NASA and Department of War Advance BVLOS Cargo Drone Operations in North Dakota

NASA and the Department of Defence War recently conducted a successful live flight demonstration in North Dakota, showcasing beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) cargo drone operations as part of ongoing efforts to advance long-distance unmanned aerial logistics. According to NASA, cargo drones carried payloads more than 75 miles (121 km) between Grand Forks Air Force Base and Cavalier Space Force Station, validating critical technologies required for safe integration into U.S. airspace.

The demonstration highlighted the Federal USS Synthesis Effort (FUSE), a collaboration between NASA’s Ames Research Center and the Department of War. Researchers tested real-time tracking, situational awareness, and safe integration of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) into complex, shared airspace. These tests are designed to advance scalable drone cargo operations for both commercial distribution and military logistics.

BVLOS Flight Demonstration

During the flights, drones transported payloads across nearly 80 miles supported by the Department of War’s UAS Logistics, Traffic, Research, and Autonomy (ULTRA) program. NASA’s UAS Service Supplier (USS) technology enabled continuous monitoring by transmitting live flight data, including altitude, location, and other mission-critical information, directly to NASA systems.

Terrence Lewis and Sheryl Jurcak, members of the FUSE project team at NASA Ames, monitored the mission at the agency’s Airspace Operations Lab. Lewis emphasized that the BVLOS monitoring system “ensures all stakeholders can see and respond to drone activity, which provides the operator with greater situational awareness.”

Enabling Autonomous Cargo Drones

NASA officials underscored that the FUSE program represents an important step toward routine autonomous drone operations for national airspace integration. Todd Ericson, senior advisor to the NASA administrator, stated that the initiative builds upon “our interagency cooperation to contribute enhanced capabilities for drones flying beyond the visual line of sight.” He added that safety remains paramount, with NASA working alongside the FAA and Department of Transportation to regulate autonomous flight appropriately.

The long-term vision for BVLOS cargo drones goes beyond military utility. NASA is actively exploring applications such as transporting medical supplies to rural areas, delivering packages directly to consumers, and monitoring wildfires. By collaborating across government and industry, FUSE aims to support infrastructure development that ensures safe and routine drone integration alongside conventional air traffic.

Multi-Agency Collaboration

The FUSE effort is conducted in partnership with the War Department’s Office of the Undersecretary for Acquisition and Sustainment and connects with ULTRA, a broader collaboration involving the Office of the Secretary of War, the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, Grand Sky Development, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and various commercial partners. Together, these organizations are working to strengthen UAS capabilities within the National Airspace System.

The demonstration reaffirmed the historic partnership between NASA and the Department of War in advancing aerospace innovation. Both agencies view BVLOS cargo drone operations as critical in reducing human workload, improving logistics efficiency, and expanding safety features within autonomous flight systems.

DroneXL’s Take

This demonstration represents a milestone in scaling drone cargo operations into long-range, autonomous missions. NASA’s work with the Department of War underscores the dual-use nature of unmanned aviation, spanning defense applications and emerging commercial markets.

The real test, however, lies ahead: Can regulators and industry develop an ecosystem robust enough to safely handle routine BVLOS flights across multiple states while balancing privacy, security, and air traffic deconfliction? And how quickly will the lessons learned from military collaborations translate into practical, approved frameworks for civilian cargo drone services?

What do you think—will cargo drones play a bigger role in commercial logistics within the next decade, or will strict regulations slow their growth? Share your thoughts in the comments.