academic collaboration
GATS and UASA to Engage with Penn State University - Behrend
Tucson, Arizona and Erie, Pennsylvania - 11 May 2026
GATS and UASA representatives will meet with Penn State Behrend leadership and faculty to explore collaboration opportunities.
Discussions will focus on engineering development, software and AI systems, materials research, and student engagement aligned with autonomous aviation systems.
Key areas of interest include:
- AI and simulation
- Flight performance modeling
- Carbon fiber and advanced materials
- Student internships and research pathways
“This is an opportunity to align system development with academic excellence.”
The meeting represents an initial step toward long-term institutional collaboration.
infrastructure development
GATS Initiates Air Logistics Center Site Selection
Tucson, Arizona - 05 January 2026
GATS has initiated site identification for its first three Air Logistics Centers (ALCs).
Initial regions under evaluation include:
- Arizona
- Texas
- North Carolina
- Florida
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
These locations are being assessed based on logistics positioning, infrastructure compatibility, land availability, and regional development alignment.
ALCs are designed as long-duration operational facilities supporting autonomous cargo aircraft and integrated system operations.
“Infrastructure is the foundation of system reliability.”
GATS is engaging with regional stakeholders as part of the evaluation process.
Infrastructure Program
GATS Issues Letter of Intent for Large-Scale UAV Procurement
Tucson, Arizona - 01 December 2025
GATS has issued a Letter of Intent (LOI) to procure up to 500 long-range, heavy-lift UAVs and associated systems from UASA.
The procurement supports phased deployment of GATS’ autonomous cargo infrastructure, beginning with initial Air Logistics Center (ALC) activation and regional operations.
Based on current program estimates, the aircraft component of the program is projected to exceed $150 billion over time, subject to engineering development, certification progression, and full system deployment.
The LOI establishes a structured pathway for aligning aircraft production with infrastructure rollout.
Partnership
GATS Selects Unmanned Aircraft Systems of America as Primary UAV Development Partner
Tucson, Arizona - 01 October 2025
Global Autonomous Transportation Systems (GATS) has selected Unmanned Aircraft Systems of America (UASA) as its primary development partner for long-range, heavy-lift autonomous cargo aircraft.
The partnership aligns aircraft development with infrastructure deployment, ensuring that UAV systems are engineered specifically for integration into GATS’ Air Logistics Center (ALC) network and operational architecture.
This approach integrates aircraft, infrastructure, and monitoring systems into a unified platform rather than treating them as independent components.
UASA will lead aircraft and system development, while GATS advances infrastructure, deployment sequencing, and operational frameworks.
infrastructure development
GATS Issues Letter of Intent to Kimley-Horn for Air Logistics Center Design
Tucson, Arizona — June 25, 2025
Global Autonomous Transportation Systems (GATS) announced today that it has issued a Letter of Intent (LOI) to Kimley-Horn to support the design and development of its Air Logistics Centers (ALCs).
The engagement will focus on site planning, infrastructure design, and engineering support for ALC facilities, which serve as the foundational operational hubs within the GATS autonomous cargo network.
ALCs are designed to support long-range, heavy-lift unmanned aerial systems, integrating aircraft operations, system monitoring, logistics handling, and ground infrastructure into a unified operational environment.
The Letter of Intent establishes a framework for collaboration and design development and does not constitute a finalized agreement.
“Developing infrastructure in parallel with aircraft and system architecture is essential to long-term operational success,” said Richard White, Founder of GATS.
GATS is currently evaluating multiple regions across the United States for initial ALC deployment and will advance site-specific planning in coordination with engineering and development partners.
