US Army accelerates Gray Eagle delivery

The US Army plans to speed up the delivery of its Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) following two previous quick reaction capability (QRC) deployments of the aircraft.

‘We’re going to accelerate Gray Eagle yet again,’ said Tim Owings, deputy project manager for Army Unmanned Aircraft Systems on 18 January.

The army is increasing its procurement from two to three systems per year, which will result in 17 extra systems being introduced by 2014.

Owings added that it was expected that the addition of two additional low rate initial production Gray Eagle systems will be confirmed by a Defence Acquisition Board in February. Each will consist of 12 air vehicles, five ground control stations, and five additional attrition vehicles.

The QRC concept is designed to bring needed capabilities in theatre sooner than was originally expected. One Gray Eagle QRC was deployed to Iraq late 2009 and the other to Afghanistan in September 2010.

The Gray Eagle is a 28-foot-long surveillance aircraft, with a 56-foot wingspan and the ability to beam images for more than 24 hours at a time from up to 29,000 ft. The aircraft are equipped with a laser designator, signals intelligence capability, an electro-optical/infrared camera, and can carry Hellfire missiles.

In addition, the army is working on the requirement for a family of small UAS.

Bob Sova, capability manager for UAS, US Army Training and Doctrine Command, said this will work on a ‘proof of principle’ deployment, designed to sharpen requirements, and get them in soldier hands.

The systems the army is looking at include the Raven, Wasp and Puma.

Sova said the requirements document for this is already done.

‘It is called the ‘Rucksack Portable UAS requirements document,’ he said. ‘We got an increase in demand for the numbers so we are working on the total numbers'.

By Shephard staff

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