Military

Airburst Range

The Airburst Range is located in the southwest corner of R-2601, on the Fort Carson Army Reservation. It is approximately 110 miles south of Buckley ANG and 25 miles west of the city of Pueblo, Colorado.

Airburst Range is located within restricted area R-2601 which is managed by Fort carson. Area Overflight of R-2601 is restricted year round. The controlling agency for the airspace surrounding R2601 is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), Longmont, CO. R2601 (including the Airburst portion) is under the ownership of Fort Carson Range Control.

Airburst Range is constructed on rolling terrain with small mountains to the immediate north. An east-west dirt road network immediately south of a dirt runway defines the northern border of Airburst Range airspace. This is located on the north side of Booth Mountain, the small mountain immediately north of Airburst Range.

There are 100ft. high power lines running east and west to the south of the range. The southern boundary is approximately one mile south of the high-tension power lines that run east and west. The western boundary is a sandy riverbed that runs north and south on the west side of a small rocky canyon area. Houses and a two lane highway border the west boundary. A north-south dirt road network on the east side of Teller Reservoir defines the eastern border of Airburst Range. Teller Reservoir is a small reservoir located on the southern border of Fort Carson, immediately east of Booth Mountain.

Airburst Range is bounded by a line beginning at: 38 o 31' 00" N Latitude 104 o 49' 00" W Longitude, to 38 o 26' 10" N Latitude 104 o 49' 00" W Longitude, to 38 o 26' 08" N Latitude 104 o 57' 30" W Longitude, to 38 o 29' 35" N Latitude 104 o 57' 30" W Longitude thence via Colorado Highway 115 North to 38 o 31' 00" N Latitude 104 o 57' 55" W Longitude thence to point of origin.

The Fort Carson Multi-purpose Training Range (MPRC) is located directly east of Airburst Range. The MPRC is active 250+ days per year for Artillery and tank firing.

Airburst Range has 31 scoreable bomb targets and four (4) low angle strafe targets scored with a IRSSS system. Targets 28, 29, and 30 are moved approximately three times per month. All of the bomb targets except T-21 are tactical in nature.

Airburst Range utilizes target 6 for basic night deliveries. The target is illuminated with lights in the shape of a cross. Other targets may be lit upon request. Airburst has Night Vision Device (NVD) compatible and normal lighting available.

There are three different types of Close Air Support (CAS) opportunities available on Airburst Range.

• Generic CAS: CAS training conducted by Airburst, Range Control Officers (RCO).
• CAS with Forward Air Controller (FAC): CAS training conducted by Air Force FAC.
• CAS with Special Forces (SF): CAS training conducted by US Army SF Terminal Guidance Operators.

Communication equipment available at the range includes selectable frequency UHF VHF, and low band VHF-FM radios. UHF transmissions on the primary frequency are recorded on a radio recording system. A closed circuit telephone system is used to relay scoring information from the spotting towers to the main tower scorer. There is DSN, long distance, local and FAA drop line service available.

Clearance into Airburst Range is clearance into the Airburst Portion of R-2601 and Airburst MOA. This clearance is not clearance to use all of R-2601. Aircraft that deviate out of the Airburst portion of R-2601 could have a conflict with parachuting activities, air drops, C-130 tactical landing activities, artillery firing, mortar firing, tank and/or Bradley Fighting Vehicle firing fans, as well as numerous other hazardous activities.

At the range, target identification is an absolute must prior to expending ordnance. This is a requirement due to the fact that Army troops may be training in the vicinity of Airburst Range and may present a picture similar to many targets on Airburst Range. The use of chaff is not permitted on Airburst Range though self-Protection flares may be employed in the target area.

Regular Army Helicopter operations may be taking place around Airburst Range during munitions delivery sorties. A concrete helipad for helicopters to land on is located on the south side of the main tower at Airburst Range. Helicopters may also land on the south side of the dirt road that defines the south side of the Airburst Range impact area. When door gunnery training is taking place on Airburst Range, it is common to have helicopters located in the field immediately south of Airburst Range.

Electronic Threats: Airburst Range has available for use a RWR Lite Electronic Warfare Simulator. This piece of equipment will give cockpit indications of various threats. This simulator is available on a daily basis for use on first run attacks/other types of training as requested.

Airburst Range has the capability to employ Smokey SAM Simulators in conjunction with the SENTRY DAWG or by themselves. All First Run Attacks will normally be engaged by these threats. CAS flights will normally be engaged by these threats during the mission. Airburst Range normally fires the Smokey SAM's and the AAA from one of two pre-positioned locations. One location is located in the vicinity of the main tower. The second location is located in the northwest corner of Airburst Range. These simulators can be fired from other locations around Airburst Range or in Pinon Canyon, located under IR-409.