Drone unit proposed at Ft. Carson
A unit dedicated to operating drones could be stationed at Fort Carson by 2017.
The Army’s proposal calls for 12 Gray Eagle unmanned aerial systems and 128 soldiers as part of a regiment that would belong to the post’s combat aviation brigade. The Army is requesting public comment on the proposal, which details the aircraft, how and when they would operate and the necessary changes to accommodate them.
Used for surveillance and in combat, the 56-foot-long, 29-foot-wide drones can carry up to four Hellfire air-to-ground missiles and fly at 29,000 feet. Live missile training would not occur on the post.
The potential of having a Gray Eagle unit is part of an increased effort by the Army to use unmanned aircraft in combat.
