UAV - Amerikanere i Tyskland

US opens drone facility in Germany, insists ‘not for spying purposes’

Published time: October 09, 2013 23:18
Edited time: October 10, 2013 12:33

A 'Hunter' Unmanned Aerial System is displayed during anofficial presentation by the German and U.S. Unmanned Aerial

Hunter Unmanned Systems (UAS) at the U.S. military base in
Vilseck-GrafenwoehrOctober 8, 2013.(Reuters / Michaela Rehle)

The Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) facility was officially opened at Vilseck Army Airfield on Monday by 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command (JMTC). A letter of agreement between US and German authorities allows them the use of two ‘air bridges’ in the east of the country to train operators, it will be the first time a US unmanned aerial vehicle will fly beyond the limits of military training areas.As two new US ‘Hunter’ drones are set to start traversing German airspace next Monday, the army remains firm that they will be used solely for training drone operators rather than spying purposes, and will not be carrying weapons.

Hunter MQ-5B systems will span the distance between Hohenfels and Grafenwoehr, in the south east of the country, about 100km east from Nuremberg. Hohenfels is approximately 100km further south from Grafenwoehr.

The project has sparked concern after news began to leak out this summer. The US army has been channeling its efforts into gaining approval for the mission since 2007. “Some reports came out before we even knew we had approval,” Brig. Gen. Walter E. Piatt, JMTC Commander told Stars and Stripes.