Fort Drum and US Army Corps of Engineers officials have started construction works on a new $21.7m unmanned aircraft system (UAS) hangar at Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield.
Designed to improve the unit’s ability to carry out maintenance on its tactical reconnaissance systems, the 26,000-square-foot facility will be home to a portion of 10th Combat Aviation Brigade’s (CAB) Shadow Platoons.
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Fort Drum garrison commander Colonel Jeffery Lucas said that the ground-breaking event also marked the end of a long, collaborative process.
Lucas further added: “A major construction project like this only happens after years of strategic planning, environmental studies, funding requests and justifications, structural planning, contract writing, bidding and rewarding.”
US Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division regional business director Reinhard Koenig said that going forward, the project will focus on delivering a quality facility on time within budget, safely.
10th CAB commander Colonel Travis McIntosh said: “On behalf of the 3,000 members of the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade who call Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield home, and the 11,000 family members of the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, we appreciate all of the world-class facilities that we have here to support our mission.
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By GlobalData“And our mission is to fight and win our nation’s wars and provide aviation operational support to our ground forces in the United States Army.”
The new hangar will provide all that is required for UAS operators to maintain mission readiness.
Announced in September last year, the project secured funding through the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.
Structural Associates secured the project contract, with construction scheduled to be completed in October next year.
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Ground-breaking ceremony for a new unmanned aircraft system hangar at Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield. Credit: Mike Strasser, Fort Drum Garrison Public Affairs/Michael Strasser.
