Air Force bombers aren’t flying over the Grand Forks Air Force Base anymore, but a buzz is being created by drones, say backers of the first unmanned aircraft business park in the US. The Grand Sky grounds will start witnessing the construction during May.

U.S.-based and international companies have already started applying for position in the 1.2 million-square-foot park, which is near the former alert pad where bombers and tankers were poised for takeoff on a moment's notice.

Testing of unmanned aircraft in North Dakota makes it one of six sites to do so. Research is on to develop drones for a wide range of applications, like farming, law enforcement, energy, infrastructure management, public safety, coastal security, military training, search and rescue and disaster response.

A letter of intent has already been signed by defense technology giant Northrop Grumman, based in Falls Church, Virginia, said Grand Sky Development President Tom Swoyer.

He also said that a meeting between him and representatives from two prospective companies was conducted last week. Smart C2 is one of the many companies looking ahead to get into the ground floor of Grand Sky. According to Stuart Rudolph, company president and CEO, the park will see all the key players coming in one space.

Rudolph said Grand Sky will become the melting spot. Other favorable factors highlighted by him include access to talent at the base, with the University of North Dakota aerospace school and a nearby technical school; government support; private equity financing and lots of airspace.

“This is too young of an industry to worry about your competition. We're investing in North Dakota because we think this is where the right people are going to come together to solve the problems of the United States”, he said.