General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) said on July 26 that its Improved Gray Eagle (IGE)–the next generation of the Army’s Block 1 Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System–made its first successful test flight.
IGE enhances the payload and endurance of its Block 1 predecessor, which has been used in combat and flown more than 70,000 hours since 2008, according to a company release.
IGE will provide 23 additional hours of surveillance with a 50 percent greater payload. The improvements come as a result of the re-designed deep belly fuselage, which increases IGE’s fuel capacity by 50 percent. IGE can also carry an optional 500-pound external fuel tank or a 360-degree sensor payload. Both of these options increase IGE’s capability twofold over its forerunner, the company said.
IGE’s larger size and its improved Heavy Fuel Engine also means that there is potential for incorporating lightning protection, damage tolerance and Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) features, according to GA-ASI.
The test flight took place at the company’s El Mirage Flight Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif. The company said IGE is “fully operational” and that GA-ASI is currently in negotiations with the Army for full-scale production. The company said it expects an August 2013 contract.