US Army orders Improved Gray Eagle
The US Army has awarded a full-rate production contract to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA‑ASI) for 19 Improved Gray Eagle (IGE) UAS to be delivered by September 2018, the company announced on 14 October.
IGE is a next-generation derivative of the army’s Gray Eagle UAS, developed by GA-ASI on internal research and development funds. The aircraft can perform longer missions at extended ranges than the Gray Eagle, allowing the aircraft to operate from safe locations and transit into areas of conflict.
IGE has a maximum gross takeoff weight of 4,200lbs and has 850lbs of internal fuel load and a centreline hard point that can accommodate an optional fuel pod with an additional 450lbs. It has an endurance of 40 hours.
Numerous software and hardware commonalities between the two types allows the IGE to be based, maintained, and operated in the same units and at the same locations as Gray Eagle.
Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI, said: ‘We are very pleased that the army has awarded us this production contract for IGE, which delivers a high-value solution for accomplishing multiple mission types, all at an affordable cost. IGE provides better endurance, additional payload capacity, easier maintenance, and extended life cycle of critical components.’
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