General Atomics has received a $389-million contract to supply the US Army with its MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones.
According to a contract announcement, the service specifically wants the extended range variant to support various missions.
The unmanned platform can operate via satellite communications at a maximum range of 2,500 nautical miles (4,630 kilometers) and has a flight endurance of more than 42 hours.
The announcement did not disclose how many Gray Eagles are under order.
The US Army is expected to receive the new systems by November 2024.
‘Delivering Upgraded Capabilities’
The MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) is a next-generation platform capable of providing long-range surveillance and reconnaissance for militaries.
It can also act as a communications relay and weapons delivery platform in support of warfighters on the battlefield.
It features an automatic takeoff and landing system that allows the drone to be launched and recovered without operator interaction.
Additionally, the Gray Eagle is equipped with four Hellfire missiles for added lethality.
“GE-ER builds upon the successes of its Gray Eagle predecessor, delivering upgraded, game-changing capabilities for saving the lives of army soldiers abroad by providing extended surveillance coverage,” General Atomics stated on its website.