US National Guard boosts arsenal with new Gray Eagle drones

In a move to enhance its combat readiness and operational effectiveness, the Army National Guard (ARNG) has signed a deal with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) for the procurement of 12 Gray Eagle 25M Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). This acquisition has been made possible through 2023 congressional funding.

In April 2023, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) announced that the US Army National Guard (ARNG) had secured funding for 12 MQ-1C Gray Eagle 25M (GE-25M) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as part of the FY2023 Congressional appropriations.

With a mandate to safeguard homeland security and respond to domestic crises, the ARNG recognises the unmanned aerial system as a means of meeting the demands of modern warfare and disaster relief operations.

The Gray Eagle 25M represents a shift in ARNG’s reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) capabilities. Equipped with EagleEye multi-mode radar and electro-optical/infrared sensors, these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) empower ARNG Divisions with situational awareness and mission flexibility. Moreover, the integration of a range of kinetic and non-kinetic payloads ensures that ARNG forces are equipped to tackle threats across land, air, and sea domains.

Patrick Shortsleeve, vice president of DoD Strategic Development at GA-ASI, highlighted the Gray Eagle’s track record of excellence, “The Gray Eagle platform has a proven record of performance with over a million hours of safe operations, including automatic takeoff and landing capability.”

The deployment of Gray Eagle 25M UAS units by the Army National Guard signals a proactive approach towards safeguarding national interests and ensuring the safety and security of citizens at home and abroad.

in November 2023, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. also secured a $389m contract with the US Army for the MQ-1C-25M Gray Eagle, a modernised extended-range drone system that enhances military reconnaissance capabilities. A month later, General Atomics achieved a milestone with the inaugural flight of its Gray Eagle 25M (GE-25M) Unmanned Aircraft System.