An essential element of the U.S. Army's Aviation Modernization Plan, GA-ASI's Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) is an innovative and technologically advanced derivative of the combat-proven Predator®. Gray Eagle offers a reliable, affordable, low-risk, and compelling next-generation tactical UAS solution to meet challenging service requirements for persistent Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) and attack operations.
Gray Eagle has an
endurance of 25 hours, speeds up to 167 KTAS, can operate up to 29,000 feet, and
carries 1,075 lb (488 kg) of internal and external payload. The aircraft can
carry multiple payloads, including Electro-optical/Infrared (EO/IR) with
laser designation, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), communications relay, and
four Hellfire missiles.
Compared to the
Predator predecessor, Gray Eagle's Heavy Fuel Engine (HFE) supports the Army's
"single fuel in the battlefield" concept and provides increased
horsepower and significantly improved fuel efficiency, utilizing either jet or
diesel fuel.
An extremely
reliable UAS, Gray Eagle features a fault-tolerant control system and a
triple-redundant avionics system architecture, similar to the systems
integrated into the battle-proven Predator B. Designed with airworthiness as a
primary consideration, Gray Eagle is engineered to meet and exceed manned
aircraft reliability standards.
This long-range,
long-dwell UAS is dedicated to direct operational control by Army field
commanders. Its expansive mission set includes, but is not limited, to
wide-area Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), convoy
protection, Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detection and defeat, close air
support, communications relay, and weapons delivery missions.
Gray Eagle's automatic takeoff and landing system (ATLS) allows the
aircraft to be launched and recovered without operator interaction. Gray
Eagle aircraft have successfully conducted tens of thousands of takeoffs and
landings.
| Characteristics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Wing Span: | 56 ft (17m) | ||
| Length: | 28 ft (9m) | ||
| Powerplant: | Thielert 165 HP heavy-fuel engine | ||
| Max Gross Takeoff Weight: | 3,600 lb (1633 kg) | ||
| Fuel Capacity: | 575 lb (261 kg) | ||
| Payload Capacity: | 575 lb int. (261 kg) 500 lb ext. (227 kg) | ||
| Weapons: | 4 Hellfire missiles | ||
| Payloads: | EO/IR SAR/GMTI Communications relay | ||
| Power: | 9 kW (redundant) | ||
| Performance | |||
| Max Altitude: | 29,000 ft (8839.2m) | ||
| Max Endurance: | 25 hr | ||
| Max Air Speed: | 167 KS
| ||
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