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.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Portugal joins Embraer and Brazil on C-390 ISR capabilities study]()
Portugal joins Embraer and Brazil on C-390 ISR capabilities study
The ongoing study was first announced by Embraer in late 2024 with the Brazilian Air Force, with this latest addition announced during the LAAD defence and security exhibition.
-
![Philippines approved for potential $5.5 billion F-16 aircraft purchase]()
Philippines approved for potential $5.5 billion F-16 aircraft purchase
The potential sale, approved by the US to the Philippines, is for 20 F-16 Block 70/72 jets, days after US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth visited the country.
-
![Sweden commits to acquire four C-390 Millennium aircraft]()
Sweden commits to acquire four C-390 Millennium aircraft
The acquisition of four C-390 aircraft follows the country’s signing of an MoU in 2023 and formal selection in 2024. It will join the existing contract held by the Netherlands and Austria.
-
![Airbus to fly new CUAS UAV prototype this year]()
Airbus to fly new CUAS UAV prototype this year
The counter-UAS prototype, named Low-cost Air Defence or ‘LOAD’, will be used to combat kamikaze UAS.
-
![Taiwan receives first F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft]()
Taiwan receives first F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft
The aircraft is the first of 66 to be delivered to Taiwan from Lockheed Martin.
-
![Boeing to remanufacture five more US Army MH-47G Block II Chinooks]()
Boeing to remanufacture five more US Army MH-47G Block II Chinooks
The contract award, worth $240 million, is part of the ongoing effort by the US Army to modernise its Block II Chinook rotorcraft fleet.
