Photo: General Atomics
If the world of military drones were a food chain, then the General Atomics Gray Eagle in a version called 25M would be the apex predator. And pretty much everyone with access to it wants a piece of the action.
The Gray Eagle is one of the veterans of the military drone kin. It was first flown a couple of decades ago, and since that time its various iterations have flown a combined one million hours with no major incident.
The drone family presently serves the needs of the U.S. Army as an armed strike platform capable of shooting up to four missiles at enemy positions, of either the Hellfire or Stinger variety.
20 years in a field so dynamic as the military one means the drone has constantly been subjected to upgrades. The most recent, and at the same time the most vicious, is called 25M, and it is the talk of the day in military circles.
A regular Gray Eagle is capable of flying at max altitudes of 29,000 feet (8,800 meters). Its 165 hp heavy-fuel engine gives it a top speed of 192 mph (309 kph) and the ability to lift up to 3,600 lb (1,633 kg) of hardware (max gross takeoff weight).
The 25M, on the other hand, was only recently tested with a more powerful engine, made together with specialist Cosworth. The 200-hp unit, initially developed for the Extended Range variant of the aircraft, is capable of delivering 50 percent more electrical power, opening the doors for new payloads to be considered, including sensors, launched effects, and electronic warfare gear.
Most importantly, the 25M is increasingly autonomous, has five times more processing power than before, and can store 80 times more data. Its RAM power has been increased as well, by a factor of ten. The new drone carries a multi-mode radar, electro-optical, and infrared sensors.
The company is working on the 25M under a $389 million contract the Army awarded it at the end of 2023, shortly after the drone made its maiden flight. With less than half a year having passed since, General Atomics announced it's about to make the first Gray Eagle 25M for the use of the Army National Guard (ARNG).
ARNG units will field the drone as they try to become capable of performing multi-domain operations and integrate with the Army's new Division Artillery Brigades (DIVARTY). The drones, 12 of which will eventually be delivered, will be used for military operations, homeland defense, and even disaster response.
For the first time, the Gray Eagle 25M will give ARNG units reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition capabilities. Like all others before it, it will be capable of doing its thing while working in conjunction with manned helicopters.
The drone family presently serves the needs of the U.S. Army as an armed strike platform capable of shooting up to four missiles at enemy positions, of either the Hellfire or Stinger variety.
20 years in a field so dynamic as the military one means the drone has constantly been subjected to upgrades. The most recent, and at the same time the most vicious, is called 25M, and it is the talk of the day in military circles.
A regular Gray Eagle is capable of flying at max altitudes of 29,000 feet (8,800 meters). Its 165 hp heavy-fuel engine gives it a top speed of 192 mph (309 kph) and the ability to lift up to 3,600 lb (1,633 kg) of hardware (max gross takeoff weight).
The 25M, on the other hand, was only recently tested with a more powerful engine, made together with specialist Cosworth. The 200-hp unit, initially developed for the Extended Range variant of the aircraft, is capable of delivering 50 percent more electrical power, opening the doors for new payloads to be considered, including sensors, launched effects, and electronic warfare gear.
Most importantly, the 25M is increasingly autonomous, has five times more processing power than before, and can store 80 times more data. Its RAM power has been increased as well, by a factor of ten. The new drone carries a multi-mode radar, electro-optical, and infrared sensors.
The company is working on the 25M under a $389 million contract the Army awarded it at the end of 2023, shortly after the drone made its maiden flight. With less than half a year having passed since, General Atomics announced it's about to make the first Gray Eagle 25M for the use of the Army National Guard (ARNG).
ARNG units will field the drone as they try to become capable of performing multi-domain operations and integrate with the Army's new Division Artillery Brigades (DIVARTY). The drones, 12 of which will eventually be delivered, will be used for military operations, homeland defense, and even disaster response.
For the first time, the Gray Eagle 25M will give ARNG units reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition capabilities. Like all others before it, it will be capable of doing its thing while working in conjunction with manned helicopters.
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