General Atomics modernises Gray Eagle for multidomain operations
Gray Eagle Extended Range UAV. (Photo: GA-ASI)
The new Gray Eagle 25M is based on a Modular Open Systems Approach.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) has launched a new multidomain operations-optimised variant of its Gray Eagle UAS, and the company also announced successful initial flight tests of a new flight computer for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) aircraft.
The design of the Gray Eagle 25M (GE-25M) includes a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) in the aircraft and its ground system architecture, ‘to ensure incremental enhancements can be made at the speed of emerging threats’, the company noted in a 10 October statement.
MOSA with GE-25M enables ‘rapid integration’ of advanced payloads and communication equipment such as a synthetic aperture radar along with AI and Machine Learning capabilities, said Don Cattell, GA-ASI VP of army programmes at GA-ASI.
He added: ‘This will reduce the sensor-to-shooter timelines, while simultaneously reducing the datalink bandwidth requirements in a contested environment, thus increasing range and resiliency.’
The first pair of GE-25Ms are scheduled for flight tests and qualification in 2023. The aircraft is controlled from a laptop-based MOSA ground station.
The GE-ER flight computer test at the General Atomics El Mirage facility in California, revealed on 11 October, formed part of US Army-funded efforts to upgrade the extended-range UAS.
GA-ASI stated that these tests also provided ‘critical risk reduction’ for the technology aboard the GE-25M.
More from Air Warfare
-
![First KC-390 Millennium lands in Hungary with official handover pending]()
First KC-390 Millennium lands in Hungary with official handover pending
The first Embraer KC-390 will undergo testing before an official handover to the Hungarian Air Force could take place.
-
![Boeing upgrades Australian P-8A Poseidon MPAs]()
Boeing upgrades Australian P-8A Poseidon MPAs
The upgrade contract could be extended beyond 2030 to cater for the additional two new P-8A Poseidons the Royal Australian Air Force was set to receive in the coming years.
-
![Space domain “has never been more critical” to the US security, says US chief of space operations]()
Space domain “has never been more critical” to the US security, says US chief of space operations
The increasing relevance of space in warfare scenarios and the proliferation of threats have been pushing the US Space Force towards modernising and investing in new capabilities.
-
![Glimpses emerge of new Chinese heavy attack helicopter]()
Glimpses emerge of new Chinese heavy attack helicopter
Recent images surfacing on the internet have revealed the People’s Liberation Army (PLA’s) Z-21 heavy attack helicopter undergoing flight tests.
-
![Greece goes ahead with Black Hawk order]()
Greece goes ahead with Black Hawk order
The Black Hawk helicopters will replace Greece's current fleet of multi-role helicopters.
