Date: 201505
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZMP.ARTCC, MN
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: UAV - Unpiloted Aerial Vehicle
Operator: Military
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Tactical
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class E ZMP
ATC / advisory: Center ZMP
Second aircraft: UAV - Unpiloted Aerial Vehicle
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Enroute
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness
Second reporter function: Enroute
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Contributing factors: Procedure; ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: When I took over Sector 24; Finley Radar (QFI) had just been taken out of service for maintenance. Usually when this happens; affected adjacent facilities are notified. Aircraft X had already departed RDR but was still in GFK Approach airspace. A short time later they called a handoff. I advised them that our radar was out and to terminate and ship Aircraft X to me. The aircraft checked on requesting clearance into R5402 and R5403 which I could not do as those airspace were not active until about 20 minutes.As this was all playing out; the question was raised that these drones cannot be operating in our airspace if our radar is out of service as we cannot radar monitor them. In the meantime; a second aircraft; Aircraft Y; departed heading for the airspace. By this time it was decided to recall the radar.In this situation; having a predetermined non-radar route to transition from approach control into the restricted areas would have solved the problem. In the bigger picture; there is a big push from the highest levels of government to get these drones integrated into the airspace system. Yet; very little thought seems to [be] given by these individuals as to what it really involves; how complex it is and most importantly; how to do it safely. All that seems to matter is it needs to be done so that people can make money.This is a very dangerous path to follow and can only lead to serious problems down the road. Safety should be the first order of business; not money. Procedures need to be developed to insure safe operation for all involved. These procedures need to be clear and not buried in legal terms.

Callback: Controller advised the biggest concern was the corridor between GFK and the restricted area. The controllers have to be able to monitor the aircraft in this corridor and they were not able to due to the radar being OTS. Once the radar was returned; [about 15 minutes] operations could continue.

Second narrative: Radar outage. Aircraft X departs RDR; goes to restricted airspace R5402. Needs to get there through TFR. With a radar outage we cannot radar monitor the aircraft. There is no approved routing we can use to get the aircraft to R5402. Also if aircraft goes lost link at any time before entering the restricted area it cannot be monitored. Either we need the radar or the aircraft cannot fly; unless we can get some approved nonradar routing. There is still problem of lost link though.


Synopsis: ZMP Controllers describe the radar being released to Maintenance for a specific time; then realized that they shouldn't be operating drones in the airspace if they don't have radar. Controllers then advise they get the radar back in service. Controllers state it is a big push to get drones integrated into the NAS; yet very little thought is being given to provide the controllers specific procedures.