U.S. Army Plans For A Gray Eagle UAV For Every 10,000-15,000 Soldiers

Kris Osborn, who works for the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, writes this: The Army is upgrading its fleet of MQ-1C Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft Systems while also advancing plans to equip each 10-15,000 Soldier division with its reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting and acquisition capabilities, officials said. “The feedback we’ve gotten from our warfighters down range is that this system is a game changer. It is really enhancing our ability,” said Maj. Gen. Tim Crosby, with Program Executive Officer – Aviation. “Soldiers have been able to take this great technology and put it into the war quickly with great results.” At a recent Defense Acquisition Board, Pentagon officials approved an Army plan to acquire 29 more aircraft as part of a longer term plan to equip each division with a Gray Eagle company consisting of a full-spectrum Combat Aviation Brigade of 12 aircraft, Crosby explained. “The world will continue to be a dangerous place. Having that organic reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition, or RSTA, capability at the division level will be a real asset,” said Rich Kretzschmar, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, or UAS, deputy project manager. The Gray Eagle is a Hellfire missile-equipped, 3,600-pound UAS with […]
U.S. Army Plans For A Gray Eagle UAV For Every 10,000-15,000 Soldiers