General Atomics Pitches Gray Eagle Drone as FARA Replacement

 

General Atomics Pitches Gray Eagle Drone as FARA Replacement

 

General Atomics is making a play for the US Army's armed reconnaissance needs after the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program's cancellation. Despite over $2 billion already spent, the Army cited "changing priorities" as the reason for ending the program.

This leaves a gap in the Army's capabilities, and General Atomics sees an opportunity with a modified version of their MQ-1C Gray Eagle drone.

 

"We're trying to jump into that [opportunity]," Dave Alexander, a company official, told Breaking Défense. The Gray Eagle, described by General Atomics as an advanced derivative of the MQ-9 Predator, boasts impressive features:

 

Endurance: 25 hours of flight time

Speed: 167 knots (309 kilometres/192 miles per hour)

Payload Capacity: Multiple options including electro-optical/infrared systems, synthetic aperture radar, and communications relay equipment

Safety: Triple-redundant avionics system for increased airworthiness

This modified Gray Eagle, potentially with Short Take-off and Landing (STOL) capability, could fulfil the Army's armed scout mission requirements. The drone can carry up to four Hellfire air-to-surface missiles.

 

The Army's decision to scrap FARA reflects a strategic shift. General Randy George emphasized the importance of "learning from the battlefield," citing the war in Ukraine as an example. The Army now prioritizes investment in "safer and less expensive" unmanned systems with diverse capabilities, including sensors and weapons.

Whether the Army accepts General Atomics' offer or pursues another competition remains to be seen. However, the Gray Eagle presents itself as a potential solution to the Army's evolving needs.