KANSAS CITY, MO. – Officials unveiled the largest non-medical grant in the history of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Friday.
The grant, awarded by the federal government, will allow a partnership with UMKC and Missouri Science and Technology in Rolla, to pioneer new ways drones can be used to aid in national security.
The Department of Defense awarded the group a $7.2 million grant and a $7.7 million contract to pioneer programs that would thwart threats to national security by drones.
Because drones are easy to purchase and operate, officials are concerned they could be used for illegal intelligence gathering or even delivering a weapon.
The grant, which covers four years, will allow the group to focus on advancing high-power microwave electronic countermeasure technologies.
"The counter-drone problem is considered a grand challenge - maybe even a wicked problem - begging for a comprehensive study of present and future countermeasures," said University of Missouri System President Mun Choi. "This program will address and improve on countermeasures, significantly impacting the defense enterprise for Missouri."
The largest federal grant to UMKC previously was a $8 million grant to UMKC’s School of Medicine and Dentistry School to study bone-related issues.
