Unmanned Systems
Army increases support for embattled Gray Eagle drone program
The Army continues to strengthen and improve its fleet of Grey Eagle drones as part of a broader effort to repair some of technical problems the emerging platform has experienced in recent years.
Modeled after the retired and highly-successful Air Force Predator, the Gray Eagle has faced several problems in its short life. Faulty communications systems and a highly-publicized crash have highlighted a challenged infancy for the drone.
As part of a continued effort to address some of these problems and ensure that they are resolved, General Atomics was awarded an $80 million contract to continue logistics services for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft system.
The drone, which first deployed in Iraq with the 1st Infantry Division in 2009, is the Army’s baseline drone program. The service has spent more than $400 million for the drone in the last two months.
The drone can achieve 29,000-ft. altitudes, an endurance of 25 hours, and speeds up to 167 knots. Payloads top out at 1,075 pounds, and include everything from electro-optical/infrared sensors with laser designation and synthetic aperture radar to communications relays and four Hellfire missiles. It also possesses automatic takeoff and landing capabilities.
Inside Defense reported that Congress approved a Department of Defense $27.3 million reallocation request to replace several unmanned aircraft systems destroyed during Operation Inherent Resolve, the campaign to defeat ISIS.
To remedy some of these issues, General Atomics has developed the MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range (ER), which has started flight testing. Upgrades include flight times up to 40 hours and an increased payload capacity. It will support attack, electronic warfare, intelligence and reconnaissance missions. Four aircraft will be delivered in 2017, with fifteen additional drones arriving in 2018.
Work will be performed in Poway, California and in Afghanistan. The project should wrap up by Dec. 2017. The Army obligated over $13 million at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
About the Author
Tim Broderick is a freelance writer for Defense Systems.
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