US Army continues pivot to large-scale combat operations from counter-insurgency in the shadow of world events
The Gray Eagle ER UAS will be expected to be fielded this year. (Photo: General Atomics)
US Army Aviation has been pivoting to face a different kind of war. On the platform front that has meant investing in proven systems and improving platforms already in service.
US Army Aviation has continued down the road of reshaping its forces in the face of a changed threat compared to that which dominated the first two decades of the century by implementing fleet changes and changing priorities.
In the 2000s and 2010s, the US Army developed a force more adapted to dealing with non-conventional forces, but in the face of Chinese boldness and military glowering along with Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, Army Aviation has begun to rapidly adopt a new posture.
Speaking at Defence iQ’s International Military Helicopter conference in London on 27 February, Maj Gen Walter Rugen, director of
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Air Warfare
-
![The potential impact of US tariffs on the F-35A]()
The potential impact of US tariffs on the F-35A
The Trump administration’s proposed tariffs have raised questions on the desirability and feasibility of the F-35A for key US allies including Canada and Switzerland. With combined orders amounting to 126 units, both nations undertook reviews of their ongoing fighter programmes.
-
![Germany signs contract for 20 Tranche 5 Eurofighters]()
Germany signs contract for 20 Tranche 5 Eurofighters
The aircraft will be delivered between 2031 and 2034 and will be upgraded with the latest electronic warfare capabilities to the EK configuration.
-
![AUSA 2025: GA-ASI and Hanwha to produce Gray Eagle STOL in South Korea]()
AUSA 2025: GA-ASI and Hanwha to produce Gray Eagle STOL in South Korea
The Gray Eagle STOL will be made available to several international militaries, with initial customer delivery planned for 2028.
