El Paso --The army is building its first airport exclusively for drones at Fort Bliss where the First Armored Division will get nine Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft.
"The actual Gray Eagle is the largest UAS (unmanned aerial system) in the army's inventory and it can be used for reconnaissance, for surveillance as well as attack if needed, "said Lt Col. Lee Peters, a spokesperson for Fort Bliss.
The unmanned aircraft is 29 feet long and has a wingspan just over 56 feet. The Gray Eagle will have its own airport about 25 miles from Fort Bliss in a training area where troops prepare for deployment.
"As part of the army's process making sure units train with the appropriate equipment they fight and deploy with it, we're going to receive next year some Gray Eagle UAS," said Lt. Col. Peters.
The Army Corp of Engineers awarded a $33 million contract to SGS, an Oklahoma company, to build the 150 acre facility.
There will be a massive 50,000 square foot hangar and more than a mile of runway for the "Gray Eagle" and smaller "Shadow" drone.
The airport is another sign of Army's growing use of drones as part of an aviation modernization plan.
"I think the UAV is going to save lives and that's going to be the front edge sword for the future protection of this country," said Jeff Parks, a UAS pilot and former soldier.
Parks was touring the Old Ironsides Museum at Fort Bliss with his parents. Along with tanks, old helicopters from the Vietnam War period are on display outside the building.
"Our soldiers are out there getting into the hotspots, in front of the bullets and we can provide surveillance, cameras, especially IED protection (Improvised Explosive Device), "said Parks.
The Gray Eagle can detect and destroy an IED. The aircraft can fly 25 hours at up to 29,000 feet according General Atomics Aeronautical Systems which builds the Gray Eagle.
Construction of the drone airport is set to begin in the spring. Fort Bliss gets its first Grey Eagles next year
"Our mission training: always be ready," said Lt. Col. Peters. "This just enables us to be prepared."
