Designed To Keep UAVs, Manned Aircraft Separated

The U.S. Army is installing ground-based "sense and avoid" radar at five bases around the country to prevent collisions between manned and unmanned aircraft.

Defense News reports that the SRC-built radars will interface with General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagle aircraft. Speaking at an industry conference last week, Col. Courtney Cote, a project manager for unmanned aircraft systems, said that the five sites are Fort Drum, NY; Hunter Army Airfield, GA; Fort Campbell, KY; Fort Hood, TX; and Fort Riley, KS. The first system will be installed at Fort Hood early next year, Col. Cote said.

UAVs figure prominently into the Army's restructuring plan, and could eventually take the place of OH-58D Kiowa Scout helicopters, teaming Gray Eagle and Shadow UAVs with AH-64 Apache helicopters. The Apaches would identify targets for the UAVs to attack.

Defense News reports that the Army has budgeted $518 million this year to stand up two Army companies with the Gray Eagle. The goal is to field the UAVs to 15 companies Army-wide. Each would be staffed by 128 soldiers and have nine UAVs, which would increase by an additional platoon and three aircraft when deployed.

The Army plans to conduct tests next summer to evaluate the Gray Eagle with the Link 16 tactical communications suite.

(Gray Eagle pictured in file photo)

FMI: www.army.mil