The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) has awarded a contract to local company Vigilant Aerospace to deploy the state’s first air traffic management system at Oklahoma Air and Space Port.
This move positions Oklahoma as a potential testbed for long-range drone operations and the emerging Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector.
“Oklahoma understands the importance of the autonomous aviation industry for the state and our nation and is taking the lead in this growing industry and ecosystem,” Vigilant Aerospace CEO Kraettli Epperson told Zag Daily.
Under the multi-year contract, Vigilant’s ‘FlightHorizon’ system will first be deployed at the Oklahoma Air and Space Port at Clinton-Sherman Airport, one of just 14 FAA-licensed spaceports in the U.S.
The technology replaces human visual observers with electronic monitoring, eliminating the need for chase planes in beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone flights. This capability is expected to accelerate military, cargo, and civilian drone operations in the state.
Funded by Oklahoma’s Preserving Rural Economic Prosperity (PREP) initiative, the project is part of a broader push to establish the state as a hub for autonomous aviation.
Unlike traditional air traffic control systems, FlightHorizon is mobile and can be redeployed across the state, allowing Oklahoma to refine airspace management practices for potential AAM sites.
The investment also highlights a growing trend among U.S. states competing for leadership in next-generation aviation. While hubs like California and Ohio have focused on urban AAM trials, Oklahoma appears to be leveraging its existing aerospace infrastructure, heavily linked to military and cargo aviation, to carve out a niche in long-range uncrewed aircraft operations.
Grayson Ardies, Executive Director of the ODAA commented: “The traditional aerospace and defense industry plays a critical role in the State’s economy, and we are grateful for the opportunity to bring this new segment of the industry together with Oklahoma’s pioneering spirit to ensure our state stays at the forefront of the national conversation to develop autonomous aviation systems.”
