MQ-1C GRAY EAGLE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM (UAS)

By U.S. ArmyNovember 4, 2014

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MISSION

Provides combatant commanders a real-time responsive capability to conduct long-dwell, persistent stare, wide-area reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, communications relay, and attack missions.

DESCRIPTION

The MQ-1C Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) addresses the need for a long-endurance, armed (up to four HELLFIRE missiles), UAS that offers greater range, altitude, and payload flexibility.

The Gray Eagle UAS is powered by a heavy fuel engine (HFE) for higher performance, better fuel efficiency, common fuel on the battlefield, and a longer lifetime.

Its specifications include the following:

Length: 28 feet

Wingspan: 56 feet

Gross take-off weight: 3,600 pounds

Maximum speed: 150 knots

Ceiling: 25,000 feet

Range: 2,500 nautical miles via satellite communications (SATCOM)

Endurance: 24 hours

The Gray Eagle UAS company consists of nine unmanned aircraft, five Ground Control Stations (GCS), six Ground Data Terminals (GDT), one Mobile Ground Control Station (MGCS), three Satellite Ground Data Terminal (SGDT), an Automated Take-off and Landing System (ATLS), and other ground-support equipment, operated and maintained by a company of 128 Soldiers.

SYSTEM INTERDEPENDENCIES

PM--Robotic Unmanned Sensors (PM-RUS) provides the electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) and SAR/GMTI payloads; PM--Joint Attack Munition Systems (PM-JAMS) provides HELLFIRE missiles; PM--Warfighter Information Network--Terrestrial (PM-WIN-T) provides communications relay payload

PROGRAM STATUS

• Current: Full Rate Production

PROJECTED ACTIVITIES

• 3QFY15: Follow-On Test and Evaluation

FOREIGN MILITARY SALES

None

CONTRACTORS

Aircraft:

General Atomics, Aeronautical Systems Inc. (San Diego, CA)

Ground Control Station:

Textron (Hunt Valley, MD)

Tactical Common Data Link:

L-3 Communications (Salt Lake City, UT)