Gray Eagle UAS undergoes datalink and avionics enhancements
NewsFebruary 04, 2022
POWAY, Calif. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has tested advanced datalink capability as part of a U.S. Army-funded development effort to upgrade the MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) unmanned aircraft system (UAS).
During the December tests, officials claim the joint U.S. Army and GA-ASI ground demonstration showed the ability of GE-ER to maintain link and support high bandwidth data rates with geostationary earth orbit (GEO) Ku/Ka band satellites and medium earth orbit (MEO) Ka band satellites with common hardware and software.
According to the company, this allows the modernized GE-ER to conduct uninterrupted flight operations over multiple satellite constellations to support continuous operations in contested environments.
Advanced waveform capabilities were also tested during this event. GA-ASI asserts that satellite constellation diversity combined with multiple line-of-sight options for interfacing with the modernized GE-ER could provide robust communications with supported maneuver units and manned aviation assets.
