Vigilant Aerospace deploys airspace management at Oklahoma Test Range

Vigilant Aerospace has installed its FlightHorizon TEMPO airspace management system at the Oklahoma Air & Space Port, marking a step forward in the state’s efforts to expand testing infrastructure for autonomous aircraft and spacecraft.

The deployment is part of a multi-year project awarded in early 2025 by the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics to support advanced uncrewed and spaceflight operations. The system integrates multiple long-range radars and transponder receivers to monitor airspace across a wide area without relying on chase aircraft.

According to the company, the system enables real-time tracking, detect-and-avoid capabilities, and traffic logging across thousands of square kilometers, supporting beyond visual line of sight operations and high-speed flight testing.

Doug Wood, State Manager for Advanced Air Mobility at ODAA, said:

“This is a key milestone in building out the infrastructure required for a national proving ground for long-distance, autonomous flight testing. FlightHorizon provides the robust traffic management system required – a standards-based, multi-sensor-ready solution that can grow with future military, cargo UAS, and air taxi operations.”

The system is expected to support future programs including planned flights of the Mk-II Aurora spaceplane from the Clinton-Sherman site.

Vigilant Aerospace CEO Kraettli L. Epperson said:

“This deployment creates new opportunities for advanced flight testing and operational validation. By combining standards-based detect-and-avoid and scalable surveillance infrastructure, Clinton-Sherman can support a wide range of current and future aerospace missions safely and efficiently with great cost-effectiveness and range availability compared to competing solutions.”

The project, funded through a state initiative to develop UAS and advanced air mobility infrastructure, currently covers around 5,000 square kilometers, with plans to expand. Officials say the system could also support missions such as disaster response and search and rescue, alongside its primary testing role.