New Drone Training Facility to Open in Aurora

The Colorado Army National Guard is opening a new facility at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora to train for drone combat.

The new facility dedicated on Sunday is a maintenance and training facility for the RQ-7 Shadow. Shadows are taken to Fort Carson and flown only in restricted air space. The drones are not equipped to carry bombs or rockets.

Army National Guard 1st Lt. Skye Robinson said the new facility cost $4 million and includes mission planning areas, classrooms, drone simulators and maintenance bays.

Army Capt. Myra Ramirez said the new facility will allow drone operators to train closely with troops before they are sent into battle, providing surveillance and intelligence on enemy targets.