Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center to host open source UAV research program
Multi-agency program seeks to identify cost savingsand drive innovation for government UAV systems
Maj. Deidre Musgrave
CAMP SHELBY, Miss. (13 December 2013) – Representatives from the military, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the private sector are scheduled to meet at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center on Friday to launch a multi-agency research program designed to drive innovation while reducing costs of technology systems used within government unmanned vehicles, an industry worth $8.1 billion as defined by organizers.
Media are invited to attend a collaborative demonstration of the Open Source Unmanned Remote and Autonomous Vehicle Systems (OS-URAVS) program and tour to be held on Friday, December 13 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center.
The OS-URAVS program is a collaborative, public-private program to be based at Camp Shelby and administered in conjunction with the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of Homeland Security, Defense Acquisition University and non-government entities, including the Open Source Software Institute.
As the nation’s largest Reserve Component mobilization station, Camp Shelby maintains exclusive access to nearly 100 square miles of restricted air space and currently operates training and testing facilities for a variety of military, government, and other organizations.
Globally, unmanned vehicles and their payload systems represent an approximately $50 billion market. Unmanned vehicles are not new to Camp Shelby. In 2010, the post became home to the Unmanned Aerial Systems Flight Center, where construction and equipment worth $72 million is underway.
The Open Source Software Institute is a national, non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the development and implementation of open source software solutions within U.S. Federal, state and local government agencies.
Camp Shelby continues to meet the challenge of providing for the Nation’s defense by planning, developing, and providing a constantly evolving diverse and demanding training environment to meet new and emerging threats to our Nation’s security.
Media Credentialing – Media desiring to cover this event should contact CSJFTC’s Public Affairs Office at 601-558-2271 or 601-467-1064 and arrive at the Camp Shelby South Gate on Highway 49 South, no later than 11:30 a.m. A public affairs representative will be standing by to escort media to the event. Media must be at the CSJFTC South Gate on time to participate in this scheduled event.
