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ER/MP Gray Eagle: Enhanced MQ-1C Predators for the Army

Oct 09, 2019 04:58 UTC by Defense Industry Daily staff

Latest update [?]

October 9/19: GBU-69/B Trials The US Army Special Operations Aviation Command (ARSOAC), together with the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), has performed a series of complex launch trials with the Dynetics baseline and Block I variant GBU-69/B Small Glide Munitions (SGMs) from an MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aircraft System. According to Jane’s, the services conducted the trials in late August at the US Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. The tests mark the first time the GBU-69/B weapon system has been released from a UAS and represent an expanded platform set from which the munition can be employed. The baseline GBU-69/B SGM is a 60 lbs Class precision glide munition, 11.4 cm in diameter, and has a wingspan of 71.1 cm. The Gray Eagle is a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS. The aircraft offers extended endurance, increased payload capacity, and high-reliability. Its mission capabilities include surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition, communications relay, and weapons delivery.

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ER/MP, armed
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Its initial battles were fought within the Pentagon, but the US Army’s high-end UAV has made its transition to the battlefield.

The ER/MP program was 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. The US Air Force saw this Predator derivative as a threat and tried to destroy it, but the program survived the first big “Key West” battle of the 21st century. Now, the MQ-1C “Gray Eagle” is in production as the US Army’s high-end UAV. As CENTCOM’s wars end, however, the Gray Eagle may find that staying in the fleet is as hard as getting there.

This FOCUS article offers a program history, key statistics and budget figures, and ongoing coverage of the program’s contracts and milestones.

Displaying 310 of 19,094 words (about 48 pages)

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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

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ER/MP Gray Eagle: Enhanced MQ-1C Predators for the Army

The MQ-1C Gray Eagle, and its Band of Brothers

The Army’s MQ-1C Gray Eagle

Sensors and Add-Ons

The Army’s ER/MP Program

Contracts & Key Events

FY 2019

FY 2018

FY 2014 – 2015

FY 2013

FY 2012

FY 2011

FY 2010

FY 2008 – 2009

FY 2005 – 2007

Appendix A: US Army et. al. vs. USAF Over UAVs

Footnotes

Appendix B: Who Controls the UAVs? Readings & Primers

Additional Readings

Background: Gray Eagle UAVs & Related Tech

Official Reports

News & Views

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