Fort Carson's new, game-changing drones can strike targets deep behind enemy lines

[Peter1469]

Fort Carson's new, game-changing drones can strike targets deep behind enemy lines

The Army has a new drone- with a 56' wingspan.

Fort Carson's newest weapon is also its most revolutionary, allowing ground-pounding units to strike targets hundreds of miles behind enemy lines and giving commanders an unprecedented view of enemy movements.All without risking lives.



Meet the Gray Eagle, a hulking drone with a 56-foot wingspan that packs four Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and can stay aloft for a full 24-hours with its thrumming diesel power plant. Fort Carson has a dozen of the drones and they will soon be ready for war.

[MisterVeritis]

Fort Carson's new, game-changing drones can strike targets deep behind enemy lines
The Army has a new drone- with a 56' wingspan.

Here is what I think. The Division, or more likely whatever ends up running Brigade Combat Teams, needs ISR plus strike capability within their area of operations. They mentioned going 1500 miles deep. That is nonsense. What it tells me is they have the comms support to manage operations within the area of operations and the area of influence of any BCT or higher organization.

It is the exact same way I used USSF on the ground to gather intelligence while the Corps G3 used his teams to strike targets. In the cases I am familiar with, we seldom (never) went deeper than around 300KM.

[Peter1469]

Here is what I think. The Division, or more likely whatever ends up running Brigade Combat Teams, needs ISR plus strike capability within their area of operations. They mentioned going 1500 miles deep. That is nonsense. What it tells me is they have the comms support to manage operations within the area of operations and the area of influence of any BCT or higher organization.

It is the exact same way I used USSF on the ground to gather intelligence while the Corps G3 used his teams to strike targets. In the cases I am familiar with, we seldom (never) went deeper than around 300KM.

If it can fly for 24 hours, that is some serious coverage.

[MisterVeritis]

If it can fly for 24 hours, that is some serious coverage.

Yes. Long loiter time is a substantial advantage. A BCT could raid for two to four days. This would allow some flank coverage. It is a bit like J.E.B. Stuart's Cavalry.