DHS picks Mississippi university for drone testing

The Department of Homeland Security has selected Mississippi State University as the new base of operations for its drone research and development.

The department’s Science and Technology Directorate is looking to the institution to lead efforts on coordinating aerial drone research within 2,000 square miles of restricted airspace over varying terrain with elevations as high as 60,000 feet. Sites for the drone testing and training exercises include the Army National Guard’s Camp Shelby, areas within the Department of Defense’s Stennis Space Center and in the waters around Jackson County’s Singing River Island where the U.S. Coast Guard has facilities.

The program is scheduled to start sometime this fall.

Read more about DHS moving the test program to the university from Jason Shueh on sister publication StateScoop.