GRAND FORKS (AP) - The University of North Dakota and defense and aircraft giant Raytheon Co. are slated to fly an unmanned aircraft this week in the airspace near Camp Grafton.

The flight will be the state's first unmanned aircraft system launch, said Al Palmer, director of flight operations at the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences.

The flights, which are closed to the general public and media, will take place Monday through Wednesday, officials said.

Representatives from the school's aviation and engineering schools will help fly a Raytheon Cobra at Camp Grafton, a facility used by both the North Dakota Air and Army National Guard.

"Since it is restricted airspace, we can fly unmanned aircraft systems in there," Palmer said.

Camp Grafton South offers the state's only restricted airspace, in a 6-square-mile area near Pekin.

Unmanned aircraft currently cannot enter national airspace, because of their inability to meet a sense and avoid requirement by the Federal Aviation Administration. The requirement involves an aircraft's ability to see and react to other objects while in flight.

Raytheon's Cobra has a wingspan of 10 feet and is 9 feet long.

"The Cobra is the smallest aircraft that has been certified by the FAA," Palmer said.

The Cobra received an experimental airworthiness certificate from the FAA in November.

Under plans approved by the 2005 federal base closing and realignment commission, the Grand Forks Air Force Base will lose its refueling tankers and most of its personnel and take on an unmanned aerial vehicle mission.

The base will be home to both Predator and Global Hawk unmanned aircraft. Predators are slated to arrive at the base starting in 2009.

UND and state officials are hoping court unmanned aircraft businesses and get them to work with the school and the Air Force.

Palmer said military contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. has expressed interest in flying unmanned aircraft in North Dakota.