ER/MP Gray Eagle: Enhanced MQ-1C Predators for the Army
Jan 17, 2012 13:44 EST
(click to view full)
Support for front-line QRC detachments. (Jan 17/12)
In August 2005, “Team Warrior” leader General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. in San Diego, CA won a $214.4 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) of the Extended Range/ Multi Purpose Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System (ER/MP UAS). That was just the first step along the US Army’s road to fielding a true Medium Altitude, Long Endurance, armed UAV, modified from the USAF’s famous MQ-1 Predator. Now, the MQ-1C Gray Eagle has entered low-rate production as the Army’s high-end UAV.
The ER/MP program is part of the US Army’s reinvestment of dollars from the canceled RAH-66 Comanche helicopter program, and directly supports the Army’s Aviation Modernization Plan. ER/MP could be a $1 billion effort, and its position got a boost when a 2007 program restructuring cut the Future Combat Systems Class III UAV competition in favor of ER/MP. Now, in FY 2011, the MQ-1C “Gray Eagle” prepares to move into full production, following the first big “Key West” battle of the 21st century between the USAF and US Army…
- The MQ-1C Gray Eagle, and its Band of Brothers
- The Army’s ER/MP Program
- ER/MP UAS – Enter the Warrior: Contracts & Key Events [updated]
- Appendix A: US Army et. al. vs. USAF Over UAVs
- Appendix B: Additional Readings – Who Controls the UAVs?
- Appendix C: Other Additional Readings
Get to DII's full story about the Sky Warrior UAV, its utility in active theaters, and keep up with new developments. Subscribe here.
- Comprehensive tracking of contracts and awards to General Atomics, AAI Corporation, L-3 Com, SPART and Thielert
- Coverage of the fraud investigation and severe financial troubles involving engine supplier Thielert, who produce the heavy-fuel engine
- Background on the US Army and Air Force power struggle for control of the UAV system, and the progress towards its resolution
- Insight on increased demand: "As of September 2007, MQ-1 Predator UAVs had reached 300,000 flight hours since inception around 2001, of which 80% were combat flight."
- From wingspan to weapons payload, the MQ-1C Sky Warrior, MQ-1 Predator, MQ-1C Sky Warrior and MQ-9 Reaper are detailed
- 9 photos, and Appendices A-C of additional resources tracking the UAV program
DII readers have access to more facts and the archive of DII articles on the Warrior ER/MP. Subscribe for access to this in-depth collection of news, events and resources.
