Fort Carson exploring addition of Gray Eagle armed drone unit

(Tribune Content Agency) — A unit dedicated to operating drones could be stationed at Fort Carson, Colo., by 2017, according to an Army proposal.

Under the plan, 12 Gray Eagle unmanned aerial systems and 128 soldiers would come to Fort Carson 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.

Dani Johnson, a spokeswoman for Fort Carson, said no official announcement of bringing Gray Eagles to the post has been made. The unit would be assigned to Fort Carson in the 2017 fiscal year, according to the proposal.

"We are just looking at the feasibility of them stationed here," Johnson said.

The public has 45 days to comment on the plan. Johnson said she did not know whether a public meeting would be held to discuss it.

Used for surveillance and in combat, the 56-foot-long, 29-foot-wide Gray Eagle 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 report says, with "dummy missiles" used instead.

The drones would fly within Fort Carson's restricted airspace and launch from Butts Army Airfield, which is adjacent to the airspace. Authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration would be required to allow the aircraft to go from the airfield to the restricted airspace, according to a draft environmental assessment prepared by Fort Carson.

Training missions would occur during the day and night.

"The assignment and operation of the Gray Eagle would enhance the Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) training at Fort Carson by integrating a key reconnaissance and support asset of the modern battle space," the environmental assessment report said.

A roughly 52,000-square-foot hangar, which could hold four of the assembled Gray Eagles, would need to be built to accommodate the aircraft.

In the event a Gray Eagle lost control, the drone would orbit the restricted airspace until communication was regained, it ran out of fuel or "descends to the ground," the assessment said.

Bill Sulzman, a Colorado Springs peace activist, said he was not surprised that a Gray Eagle unit could come to Fort Carson because other Army posts across the country already have them.

Sulzman said he is concerned with the Army's increased use of an "unmanned bomber fleet," similar to the Air Force's Predator drone program, and constraints the proposal could have on the airspace surrounding the post.

"This fits into a general pattern on more demands for airspace on Fort Carson," said Sulzman, who also mentioned a post proposal to use land supervised by the Bureau of Land Management for helicopter training.

"It's the idea that they're doing these things one at a time and not having to address: 'What are you doing to our airspace here?'"

The potential of having a Gray Eagle unit is part of an increased effort by the Army to use unmanned aircraft in combat.