MSU signs agreement with Army on unmanned aircraft research

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University is opening a new chapter in its research of unmanned aerial systems.

Officials from the land-grant institution were at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala., yesterday for a memorandum of understanding signing with the U.S. Army’s Project Manager for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (PM UAS).

The agreement will foster collaboration between PM UAS and MSU that complements one of the university’s key research focus areas, according to a senior administrator.

“This MOU will allow Mississippi State to boost its research capabilities and retool curricula, allowing students and faculty to research and study UAS use in the national airspace,” said Lt. Col. Robb Walker, director of external programs for PM UAS. “There are an endless number of things you could use UAS for. It is amazing to see what these students think of and how they conquer problems.”

As part of the MOU, the Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center has provided the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory at MSU with a Raven unmanned aircraft system, which consists of three airframes and ground control equipment.

The Army has signed similar MOUs with Auburn University, University of Alabama, University of Alabama-Huntsville, Alabama A&M University, Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Texas-Arlington.