Drone systems to be tested at Utah site

SALT LAKE CITY, May 11 (UPI) -- The Dugway Proving Ground in the Utah desert says it will serve as the testing site for three drone projects being developed for the U.S. military.

U.S. Army Col. Robert Jones Jr., the commander at Dugway, confirmed three unmanned aerial vehicle systems will be tested at his site, including the MQ-1C Warrior surveillance and attack drone being developed by the U.S. Army, The Salt Lake Tribune reported Friday.

Dugway will also serve as the training center for the Army's RQ-7 Shadow and RQ-5 Hunter surveillance drones, Jones said.

"Dugway Proving Ground is happy to be part of this initiative and we're glad to have the support of our Army leaders," the base commander said.

The Tribune said U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, lobbied the Army to use the nearly 800,000-acre base for its drone testing, touting the site's close proximity to the Utah Test and Training Range as a positive.

"The testing that will go on at Dugway has the potential to save the lives of countless American soldiers," the senator said in a statement.