Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education

09/10/2026

OAIRE R&D Engineer and C-UAS Lead Andrew Walsh represented OSU - OAIRE at the DSI C-UAS & Integrated Protection Summit in Huntsville, Alabama.

Andrew took the stage to discuss “Leading Research and Development Innovation in Counter-UAS Technologies,” sharing insights from OAIRE’s work advancing counter-unmanned aircraft systems and addressing the evolving challenges posed by emerging UAS threats.

As the unmanned systems landscape continues to evolve; research, testing and collaboration are critical to developing the technologies and capabilities needed to protect our nation’s airspace.

We’re proud to have Andrew representing OAIRE and OSU in these important conversations at the forefront of C-UAS research and development.

09/08/2026

🚀 Fly Forward with OAIRE – 77 Counties in 77 Weeks! ✈️

OAIRE is taking aerospace, aviation, robotics, and STEM education on the road as part of our bold statewide initiative to reach all 77 Oklahoma Counties in 77 weeks. Bringing exciting, hands-on learning experiences directly to students, educators and community.

We’re putting drones into the hands of students, giving them the chance to experience flight and technology firsthand. We’re also bringing along Atlas, our robotic dog, to showcase the incredible possibilities of robotics and emerging technology that can show kids how to soar.

Our goal is simple: make aerospace and STEM opportunities accessible to students across Oklahoma, no matter where they live.

Is your school or community ready to Fly Forward with OAIRE? We want to bring the experience to you!

77 counties. 77 weeks. One Oklahoma. Endless possibilities.

Sign-up today: LINK IN COMMENTS! ⭐️

09/07/2026

Is America Ready for Drone Swarms?

As drone technology continues to evolve, the question is no longer if unmanned systems will shape the future of national security, it’s how prepared we are to defend against increasingly complex threats. A recent article explores the growing challenge of defending the U.S. homeland against potential mass drone attacks and the need for layered counter-UAS capabilities.

OAIRE Executive Director and Director of the Counter-UAS Center of Excellence, Dr. Jamey Jacob, shares his perspective on the challenges of detecting, identifying, and defeating large numbers of unmanned aircraft and why there is no single solution to counter-drone defense.

From advanced sensing and electronic warfare to interceptor systems and other emerging technologies, OAIRE is helping test and evaluate the capabilities needed to identify gaps and strengthen the nation's counter-UAS ecosystem.

Read the full article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/is-america-ready-if-an-enemy-military-launches-drone-swarms-at-the-homeland/ar-AA2bbbNS?

The U.S. military is racing to build defenses against a threat American forces have repeatedly confronted overseas but could face on their own soil: waves of enemy drones targeting military bases and critical infrastructure. The threat could come as part of a larger military strike designed to overw...

09/04/2026

Fly Day Fridays at the Greenwood Drone Pad!

Every Friday, the OAIRE Tulsa team heads to the Greenwood Drone Pad at OSU-Tulsa to fly a different unmanned vehicle, but these weekly flights are about much more than simply getting in the air. They’re about building experience, validating technology, testing new capabilities, and developing one of the most capable flight teams in OAIRE.

Fly Day Fridays give our team consistent stick time and hands-on experience operating a variety of vehicles in a team environment. Each flight is an opportunity to make sure our aircraft and components (from batteries, motors and props to sensors and payloads) every piece is performing as it should. We also use these flights to evaluate/test new sensor payloads and mission types, refine autonomous flight profiles, data collection, and processing techniques.

Just as importantly, these flights help increase OAIRE’s visibility in the Tulsa community while strengthening our partnerships with OSU-Tulsa, Skyway36, LaunchPad faculty, and TIL.

At the heart of it all, Fly Day Fridays support OAIRE’s mission by keeping our pilots proficient through consistent, real-world flight experience while advancing the capabilities of our unmanned systems and the people who operate them.

Practice. Test. Learn. Fly. Repeat. 🚁

09/03/2026

OAIRE’s Fly Forward: 77 Counties in 77 Weeks Initiative

📍 Boise City, Oklahoma

OAIRE brought the excitement of aerospace and STEM to 71 students in 6th through 8th grade, where every student got to personally build and fly their very own drone to take home.

And because no STEM day is complete without a little friendly competition… who doesn’t love a good paper airplane competition?!

A HUGE thank you to Boise City Public School District for jumping in and taking on all the fun, and a special thank you to all the teachers and Elementary School Principal Teresa Craiker for helping make this stop such a success!

💙 Go Panthers! Keep flying forward! 🐾✈️

This is just the beginning as OAIRE continues its journey across all 77 Oklahoma counties in 77 weeks, bringing hands-on aerospace and STEM opportunities to students and communities across the state.

So… who will be our NEXT stop on the Fly Forward: 77 Counties in 77 Weeks journey?

09/02/2026

OAIRE’s Fly Forward: 77 Counties in 77 Weeks Initiative

Three Stops. Three Communities. One Road to a Safer Community!

The OAIRE team hit the road for a three-location tour in Hammon, Canton, and Concho, Oklahoma, joining the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Department of Transportation for their “Roadway to a Safer Community” Summit.

At each stop, kids and community members had the opportunity to get hands-on with STEM and emerging technology. From learning how to safely fly drones and meeting Atlas the robotic dog to building paper airplanes and kite kits, there was something for everyone to explore!

We love bringing aerospace, technology, and hands-on learning directly into communities across Oklahoma and helping inspire the next generation along the way!

A huge thank you to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Department of Transportation and Southern Plains Transportation Center for partnering with us and making this incredible community event possible.

09/01/2026

OAIRE recently welcomed ATX and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce for a tour of our Excelsior Lab.

The visit provided a firsthand look at the research and technology being advanced at OAIRE, including UAS engines, weather balloon systems, battery technology, and drone research and development.

We’re proud to showcase the work happening here at Oklahoma State University to advance aerospace innovation.

08/31/2026

Shaping the Future of Aviation

OAIRE was proud to host an sUAS Workshop on August 25 in Oklahoma City in partnership with the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).

The workshop brought aviation professionals together to explore the growing role of drones in airport operations, including weather data collection, Advanced Air Mobility, sUAS detection, infrastructure inspections, and public safety.

Thank you to AAAE, Lt. LaPorte and OCPD, and OAIRE’s Chris Swan, AJ Burba, Andrew Walsh, and Braydon Revard for contributing to this important conversation about the future of aviation.

08/28/2026

OAIRE Team at ISARRA 2026

The OAIRE team is at the ISARRA Conference 2026, connecting with researchers, industry leaders, and students from across the advanced air mobility and rotorcraft community.

Representing OAIRE are Executive Director Dr. Jamey Jacob, Assistant Research Professor Gus De Azevedo, Engineer Daniel Gassen and our team of students.

Of course, no trip to ISARRA would be complete without a Dr. Jacob selfie. Wilbur made the perfect phone holder for a team picture. Talk about a hands-free approach to networking!

08/26/2026

Powering the Future of UAS

Last week, we welcomed the TECO Westinghouse team to our Excelsior Lab for a tour and a look at the research and capabilities driving the future of aerospace innovation.

During the visit, OAIRE Engineer Josh Melvin showcased our new testing capabilities for large UAS motors, highlighting how OAIRE is expanding its ability to support the development and testing of next-generation uncrewed aircraft systems.

We’re proud to open our labs to industry partners and share the work happening at OAIRE as we continue to advance aerospace technology through research and collaboration.