Small Military UAV Testing on Mt Washington

On Tuesday, June 19, 2012, the Union Leader posted an article by Sara Young-Knox about the military using Mt. Washington, NH as a testing site for military drones back in 2010 and 2011.  The military choose Mt. Washington, NH because of the unpredictable and challenging weather that can accrue on the mountain.

According to Sara Young-Knox, the testing began in the summer of 2010 by U.S Special Operation Forces wanted to use the highest Northeast peak to practice and gain experience using unmanned aircraft systems or remote controlled aircrafts.

The article in the Union Leader also went on to say, that Mt. Washington, NH was listed as a drone site in two departments of defense presentations in 2010 and in 2011, by Dyke Weatherington, Deputy Director of the unmanned warfare section of the Department of Defense, testing the Raven and Wasp Drones at Mt. Washington, NH.

The Wasp Drone wingspan is over two feet and weights under a pound.  While the Raven Drone wingspan is 4-5 feet and weighs 4.2 pounds.  Both drones primary functions was reconnaissance and surveillance that could sustain altitudes of 100 to 500 feet above the ground level.