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AUVSI: It?s Official: 'Grey Eagle'
The US Army’s long wait for naming approval on its Extended Range / Multi Purpose (ER/MP) UAS in finally over – It’s now 'Grey Eagle..' The naming approval was confirmed during a US Army UAS panel discussion at this week’s AUVSI Unmanned Systems North America.
'One of the things we have had a little trouble with is name recognition of some of our systems,' acknowledged Col Gregory Gonzalez, US Army Project Manager for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. 'Sometimes it’s a little bit difficult to know what system we’re talking about. And the example I would give is the Extended Range Multi Purpose, which is our largest aircraft, that is sometimes referred to as ER/MP. That’s the name that the programme was established under. The ‘Sky Warrior’ moniker was given by General Atomics [Aeronautical Systems Inc.], the prime contractor. So it’s been referred to as both ER/MP and ‘Sky Warrior.’ And that confused a lot of people.'
'Last week our office finally got approval from the Air Force, which is responsible for giving popular names to aircraft. We submitted for and had our request granted to name that system ‘Grey Eagle.’ So, from this point forward, we will be referring to the ER/MP, a.k.a. ‘Sky Warrior,’ as ‘Grey Eagle.’ And that should erase any of the confusion. That’s the only programme of record: ‘Grey Eagle.''
'That’s ‘Grey Eagle’ as ‘G-R-E-Y,'' added Col Robert Sova, US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Capabilities Manager for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. 'The naming nomenclature, of course, is usually after an Indian chief or Indian tribe and I would suggest that you look up ‘Grey Eagle,’ because there is a good history of that particular Indian chief and his lineage with the army and special operations. So it is not only a ‘cool’ name, it has substance and meaning behind it.'
By Scott Gourley, Denver
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