Fort Huachuca is the Army's premiere site for testing and training UAVs. We see them in the skies here all the time already - the facilities are already in place. Given the local expertise in UAVs among former military and current UAV contractors, the county is putting together a private UAV facility where non-military contracts and operations can occur.
So, this is the perfect place to start this, headquarter this, etc.
This was backed up by Col. Ben Anderson's recent testimony.
Cochise County View of the Border (congressional testimony by US Army Col. (retired)
March 10, 2003
(excerpt)
In southeastern Arizona, where the main concentration of illegal alien and drug traffic exists, (upwards of 1.5 million illegal aliens per year successfully cross into the United States through Cochise County alone), the stationing structure already exists for rapid deployment. Ft. Huachuca provides a perfect location for border operations of any needed military units.
Military engineer units from the active and reserve components can rapidly emplace requisite fencing in areas where needed. Units (active and reserve) can be rotated to maintain the operational tempo of other Department of Defense missions. The task is simple and requires very limited training, if any at all. Standard "rules of engagement" suffice.
Concurrently, INS and Border Patrol forces can take on their mandated task of searching out illegal aliens within the county and repatriating them to their country of origin.
Finally, the military would be genuinely welcomed by the local citizenry who are frustrated at the unsatisfactory state and national response to the problem.
It is a wining situation for the military, for the local citizenry, the state and the nation.
May 8, 2003
Navy/industry UAV demonstration kicks off annual conference
The second demonstration of multiple unmanned aerial vehicle systems is set to be held July 14 at NAVAIR's Webster Field Annex.
The event is sponsored by the Program Executive Office for Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation, in conjunction with the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. It serves as a kick-off to AUVSI's annual conference, Unmanned Systems 2003, set to begin the next day at the Baltimore Convention Center.
The day-long demonstration highlights UAV technology and capabilities. It offers a unique opportunity to display and demonstrate full-scale UAV systems and hardware. A 17-feet by 23-feet outdoor video screen will allow the attendees to see the same imagery as the UAV operators while the vehicle is in flight. Invited speakers include Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Sen. John Warner (D-Va.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
There will be 16 slots available for flying systems. To date, expressions of interest have come from domestic and foreign UAV manufacturers including: Schiebel CamCopter; Boeing ScanEagle; Geneva Dakota; TRW Hunter; SAIC Vigilante; Northrop Grumman Fire Scout; Systems Research & Development Corporation Archangel; Marine Corps Warfighting Lab Dragon Eye; Micro Autonomous Systems HeliSpy UAV; Raytheon Tactical Control Station; D-Star Engineering Micro Engine; Innocon Minifalcon; Aeronautics Aerostar; Yamaha RMAX; Mmist Snowgoose; and Aerosonde. Selections of flying systems will be made in the next few weeks, following a review process by the range safety committee.
Over the years, UAVs have gained the attention of military planners and other potential civil users in such fields as transportation, agriculture, meteorology, and homeland defense.
"Just as unmanned