Key Takeaways
- Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems received $3 million to develop Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) UAS technology for agriculture.
- Funding was approved during the 2025 Kansas legislative session to advance aviation and agricultural innovation.
- BVLOS technology is intended to support yield improvement, input cost reduction, livestock management, and precision agriculture.
- The company operates a 49,000-square-mile FAA-licensed UAV test range.
- State officials said the investment strengthens Kansas’ position in aviation and precision agriculture.
Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems Secures State Funding for BVLOS Development
Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department of Agriculture announced that Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems has been awarded $3 million to develop Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) technology for agricultural applications.
The funding, approved by the Kansas Legislature and Governor Kelly during the 2025 legislative session, is intended to accelerate the development of aviation and agricultural technologies in the state. Officials cited Kansas’ extensive cropland and grassland acreage, established manufacturing base, and leadership in precision agriculture and aviation as factors supporting the investment.
Governor Laura Kelly said: “Through investments into cutting-edge precision agriculture technology, we are giving Kansas farmers and ranchers a leg up. Kansas' vast cropland and grassland acreage, as well as our diversified agriculture industry, make us the ideal location for these developments.”
