Meadowlark Aircraft Company at the 2025 UAS Summit & Expo
- Cassidy Will
- Oct 17
- 2 min read
The Meadowlark Aircraft Company team returned to the 2025 UAS Summit & Expo in Grand Forks, North Dakota—an annual event that continues to bring together innovators, manufacturers, and decision-makers shaping the future of unmanned aerial systems. The week was filled with conversations, collaboration, and connection throughout North Dakota’s growing UAS ecosystem and beyond.
The Summit officially began on Monday, October 13th, with an opening reception at GrandSKY, the nation’s first commercial UAS business and aviation park. The evening featured remarks from Senator John Hoeven and celebrated the partnerships driving North Dakota’s thriving UAS sector. With public, private, and defense stakeholders all under one roof, the reception captured the spirit of collaboration that defines the region’s aerospace community, setting the tone for an engaging week ahead.
Tuesday, October 14th, marked the first full day of the conference. Meadowlark’s Systems Engineering Manager, Matthew Granstrom, took the stage to present Powering Smarter UAS Operations with Data Fusion and Digital Twins. His session explored how data integration and AI-driven modeling are enhancing training, optimizing performance, and powering safer, more efficient UAS operations. Throughout the day, the Meadowlark team connected with attendees at the booth, sharing insights into drone manufacturing and Meadowlark’s mission to deliver bespoke, U.S.-made UAS.
That evening, attendees gathered at The HIVE for one of the Summit’s most energizing networking events. Co-hosted by The HIVE, University of North Dakota, and MTSI, the reception brought together industry leaders, innovators, and community members to connect over the future of autonomy in North Dakota and beyond. It was an energetic night filled with conversation, collaboration, and a shared enthusiasm for the innovation happening across the state’s UAS ecosystem.
On Wednesday, October 15th, the second day of the Summit featured more presentations, panels, and networking across the exhibition hall. Meadowlark’s CTO, Dr. Ned Tabat, participated in Pitch Day, highlighting how the company is building U.S.-made drones through precision manufacturing, secure supply chains, and a commitment to advancing the next generation of Group 3 aircraft. It was a valuable opportunity to share Meadowlark’s vision and connect with others shaping the future of unmanned aviation.
The week concluded on Thursday, October 16th, with the 3rd North Dakota–Republic of Korea UAS Cooperation Forum at The HIVE. This event brought together key leaders from both regions to discuss collaboration opportunities in the UAS industry and engage in B2B meetings. The discussions focused on building stronger international partnerships, fostering research collaboration, and strengthening collaboration across the global UAS supply chain. Meadowlark was proud to take part in the forum and is eager to continue contributing to this growing partnership between North Dakota, the Republic of Korea, and others in the global UAS community.
It was great to see and connect with everyone who stopped by the Meadowlark booth to learn more about our team and our work in drone manufacturing. Every conversation reinforces our commitment to building the future of unmanned systems right here in the United States.
A special thank-you goes to BBI International, The HIVE, GrandSKY, the Republic of Korea, and other
s for hosting a great week of events. We’re grateful for the ongoing collaboration across North Dakota’s UAS ecosystem—and we’re excited to see what’s next for Meadowlark and North Dakota.