Kratos announces Grey Eagle UAV contract
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has announced that it is one of two companies selected by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) for a Phase 1 development of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Composite Maintenance System Trainer (CMST) programme. Kratos revealed the news 9 May, 2012.
As part of Phase 1, Kratos will develop the architecture and preliminary design for the suite of maintenance training systems and common support items for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle CMST. Kratos said the contract will draw on its experience in producing advanced maintenance training systems for a variety of military aviation platforms, which have included the UH-60M Black Hawk and CH-47F Chinook helicopters.
The GA-ASI MQ-1C Gray Eagle is a Medium Altitude Endurance UAS currently in the final stages of System Design and Development (SDD) for the US Army and is currently deployed in Afghanistan. The aircraft is an Extended Range/Multi-Purpose (ER/MP) derivative of GA-ASI’s successful Predator family of UAVs. This platform is used for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) and attacking enemy positions without detection. It is capable of operating for 24 hours at altitudes up to 29,000 feet with an operating range of 1,200 kilometres while carrying a payload of 800 pounds.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet]()
US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet
The service has been conducting various procurement and development efforts to integrate unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into its inventory.
-
![Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems]()
Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems
As the dynamics of aerial combat rapidly evolve, Chinese scientists have engineered a sophisticated air separation drone model that can fragment into up to six drones, each capable of executing distinct battlefield roles and challenging the efficacy of current anti-drone defences such as the UK’s Dragonfire laser system.
-
![Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences]()
Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences
Advancements in air defence technologies have begun to reshape aerial combat dynamics in the Middle East, as illustrated by recent events involving the Israeli Air Force and Hezbollah.
-
![Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way]()
Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way
Both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war have been using UAS for effective low-cost attacks, as well as impactful web and social media footage. Thousands more have now been committed to Ukrainian forces.
-
![AI and software companies selected for US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle subsystems]()
AI and software companies selected for US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle subsystems
The US Army has intentions to develop light, medium and heavy variants of the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) as part of the branche’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle family.
