General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) announced on January 25 that it had completed the first flight of the Grey Eagle 25M (GE-25M) Unmanned Aircraft System at its flying facility in El Mirage, California, on December 5, 2023. As the United States Army continues building Multi-Domain Operations (MDO)-capable GE 25Ms for use by active duty and National Guard units of the United States Army, the first flight represents a critical milestone in the Grey Eagle modernisation programme. The flight comes after awarding an undefined contract on December 1, 2023, for the Grey Eagle 25M Production Representative Test Aircraft, with a maximum value of $389 million. There is a high probability that the GE-25M will continue to serve the Army well into the 2050s.
During the first Grey Eagle 25M flight, the primary focus was on flight-critical operations. This included testing the upgraded flight computer, which featured four times the processing capacity and eighty times the data storage (with ten times the amount of random access memory) for increased computing power that enables processing at the edge. Additionally, the flight was designed to meet the demand for increased automation and autonomy. The aircraft’s new HFE 2.0 engine and power-generating systems were put through their paces during the flight. As a result of the redesigned engine, gearbox, and generator design, which was developed in collaboration with the Project Manager of Endurance Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (PM EUAS), major maintenance operations have been reduced, and the requirement for overhaul has been nearly eliminated.
In an MDO scenario, soldiers expect the aircraft to function with higher reliability while reducing the amount of staffing and equipment. This is why the GE-25M greatly minimises the maintenance required on the aircraft, according to GA-ASI President David R. Alexander.
In conjunction with its sophisticated avionics, the more powerful generators of the GE-25M make it possible for the aircraft to perform the functions of a Multi-Domain Operations “truck.” This truck can use advanced multi-intelligence sensors, launched effects, and electronic warfare pods.
To ensure that the platform can adapt to evolving threats in the future, GA-ASI has partnered with PM EUAS to create an open architecture that is owned and controlled by the government. This architecture will enable plug-and-play capabilities. Open architecture aircraft and ground systems, enhanced datalinks, and an upgraded propulsion system are all components incorporated into the GE-25M. These components considerably enhance the capability to add new capabilities, give resilience to electronic threats, and bring expeditionary employment to remote regions.
