General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) on April 26 announced that the Army National Guard (ARNG) has received a fiscal year 2023 Congressional funding for 12 new Gray Eagle 25M (GE-25M) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

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GE-25M is equipped with the new Eagle-Eye multi-mode radar and electro-optical/infrared sensors, and can host a wide range of additional kinetic and non-kinetic payloads  (Picture source: GA-ASI)

The funding comes after Army National Guard States, which make up 45 percent of the U.S. Army’s combat divisions, requested GE-25Ms to make ARNG Divisions Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) capable, deployable, and better able to team with newly formed Division Artillery Brigades (DIVARTY). They will also be available to support domestic missions, such as homeland defense and disaster response, as needed.

“The GE-25M UAS is a very versatile aircraft,” said GA-ASI Vice President of DoD Strategic Development Patrick Shortsleeve. “Gray Eagle is a valuable tool that gives the ARNG capabilities that match the organizational and doctrinal Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) requirements of active Army divisions with up to 40 hours of continuous flight.”

GE-25M is equipped with the new Eagle-Eye multi-mode radar and electro-optical/infrared sensors, and can host a wide range of additional kinetic and non-kinetic payloads. Equipping ARNG Divisions with organic GE-25Ms makes possible the necessary mission planning, targeting, communications, detailed coordination, and realistic training needed to employ the systems successfully in combat. GE-25M will allow ARNG Divisions to have Divisional ISR for the first time.

The Gray Eagle UAS has a proven record of performance with millions of hours of safe operations, including automatic takeoff and landing capability. The aircraft excels as an enabler for Fires, Maneuver, Network, and Intelligence operations. It is also an integral part of the Army Aviation team, working closely with manned rotary-wing systems to achieve overmatch against pacing threats.

Delivery of GE-25M capability to the ARNG will deepen the skill and experience of the whole force. Not only will the aircraft enhance the lethality of the United States’ strategic reserve, but it will also spread the operational burden more broadly.ARNG Gray Eagle companies will be able to deploy to operational theaters and conflicts where, to date, only regular Army Gray Eagle units have been supporting deployments.