JAPAN – North Dakota Senator John Hoeven travels to U.S. military bases in Japan about to expand his work to make Grand Forks the leader in unmanned aerial systems.
Grand Forks Air Force Base and Grand Sky Technology Park provides intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to the U.S. military. Hoeven calls this vital to American efforts to counter Chinese military aggression.
Some of the collaboration at U.S. military bases in Japan done with Grand Sky is helping the Japan Air Self Defense Force with global hawk operation planning and communication. Japan is also buying the reaper drone and will train their pilots in Grand Forks.
“This is not only a win for our country by working with our ally to push back on China but a win for North Dakota, which plays a key role in helping to make it happen,” Hoeven said.
Hoeven also spoke with Japan Defense Minister General Nakatani and Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya about the U.S. military wanting to continue to increase joint operations with Japan to push back on China.
Hoeven also met with Japanese agriculture officials about expanding markets for North Dakota farmers. He says Japan is the number one market for American beef, the second-largest for U.S. corn and third-largest for U.S. soybeans.
