Military

Chocolate Mountain Impact Area (R-2507)

The Yuma Training Range Complex [YTRC] is a military aviation training facility composed of airspace and lands located in southwestern Arizona and southeastern California. The YTRC includes the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Bombing and Gunnery Range.

The Chocolate Mountain Impact Area is an unnattended/non-instrumented ordnance range located approximately 60 NMI northwest of the MCAS Yuma TACAN, Channel 84. Access to the Chocolate Mountains is by air or surface roads. The Chocolate Mountain Impact Area provides a large land and airspace area for air tactics, Close Air Support (CAS) missions, laser system operations, and air-to-ground bombing, rocket, and strafing exercises. All types of live and inert conventional ordnance up to 2000 lb general purpose (GP) bombs, including MK 20 (Rockeye) and cluster bomb units (CBUs), are authorized in specific areas with prior coordination. Due to past noise complaints, High Explosive Ordnance deliveries are restricted to the hours of 0700-2100 Pacific Standard Time and 0800-2200 Pacific Daylight Time (ZULU minus 7 Always).

The Chocolate Mountain Impact Area has five target areas each with numerous individual targets. These targets include vehicle hulks, convoys, anti-air sites, simulated airfield and headquarters complexes. The Inert Line (also referred to as the Blue Line - a reference to the color of most inert ordnance) is the plotted line, approximately bisecting the R2507 North portion of the Chocolate Mountain Range, which approximately follows the Chocolate Mountain ridge line. Targets north of this line can be engaged with live ordnance. Targets south of this line, with the sole exception of the ICM target, can only be engaged with inert ordnance.