CHIPPEWA COUNTY, MI -- Michigan’s advancement in the aerial technology space is coming from the top down, starting with an Upper Peninsula airport.

Chippewa County International Airport in the eastern U.P. has been tapped to become a drone operation hub for future US-Canada border drone flights.

The airport’s proximity to the Canadian border and maritime corridors like the St. Mary’s River made it an ideal candidate for this future operation.

The airport will become a base for both commercial and public safety drone missions in 2026.

The project received funding from Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification as part of the state’s 2025 One-Time Mobility Fund.

The Real-World Deployment Grants range from $100,000 - $500,000 per project.

The Michigan Economic Development

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