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Drone Rules for National Training Center

Fort Irwin, California (CA) • United States
983 Inner Loop Rd, Fort Irwin, CA 92310, USA
Lat: 35.2632 • Lng: -116.691
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 30, 2026
Summary
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Fort Irwin National Training Center in the Mojave Desert prohibits all unauthorized UAS. The NTC conducts the Army's largest combined arms live-fire exercises across 642,000 acres with helicopter, artillery, and UAS systems active simultaneously.

Drone Rules - Fort Irwin NTC

All civilian UAS operations are prohibited within Fort Irwin and the National Training Center (KBYS) without DoD authorization.

Airspace / Site Context

  • Bicycle Lake Army Airfield (KBYS) Class D from surface in remote Mojave Desert
  • 642,000 acres of desert training area with artillery ranges, maneuver areas, and aviation corridors
  • AH-64 Apache, UH-60, CH-47, and fixed-wing tactical aircraft operate simultaneously
  • Army fields Gray Eagle (MQ-1C) and RQ-7 Shadow UAS during rotational exercises

Key Rules

  • No civilian UAS in training area without installation authorization
  • Live artillery and mortar firing is nearly continuous during rotation periods
  • Military UAS operations create airspace congestion; civilian drones add collision risk
  • Death Valley National Park lies directly north; NPS drone rules apply at the boundary

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