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UAS That Would Be Game Changer in Battlfield

Sep 1, 2017

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A version of the Gray Eagle UAS showcased enhanced capabilities in a flight test. The MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range (MQ-1C ER) unmanned aircraft completed a 41.9-hour endurance flight, exceeding the 40 hour flight test goal.

The UAS, designed and developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), flew out of El Mirage, Calif. in a representative U.S. Army mission configuration. Since its first flight in October 2016, the aircraft has flown 43 test flights and accumulated over 260 hours in the air.

The MQ-1C ER production aircraft will begin flight test in Dugway, Utah for evaluation of the Army’s First Article Test (FAT), according to the company’s website. FAT will demonstrate MQ-1C ER’s mission capabilities, which include increased range, endurance, and payload capacity.

In January 2018, MQ-1C ER will go through Logistics Demonstration (Log Demo) where aircraft maintainability will be validated. Then, Follow-on Operational Test and Evaluation2 (FOTE2) will demonstrate the aircraft’s ability to meet all Army operational requirements in preparation for fielding, which is planned for August 2018.

“This is an important milestone for the MQ-1C ER program,” said David R. Alexander, president, Aircraft Systems, GA-ASI. “The MQ-1C ER represents a significant enhancement in capability over the currently fielded MQ-1C and will be a game changer on the battlefield in support of our Army customer.”

According to janes.com, Alexander told reporters that the UAS has already been sold and entered full rate production (FRP) as an existing design. Around mid-2018, Alexander said, General Atomics will perform something similar to a formal operational test. Alexander said the company will field it after performing this test.

Alexander added that the company is under contract with the US Army for 160 units of the legacy Gray Eagle and roughly 60 of the extended range variant. He said the company is in talks with the Army for something similar to a service life extension programme (SLEP) that would bring the aircraft back to the manufacturer and have the new airframe installed.