The compact SNC equipment provides long-range detection and collection capabilities. It supports the Army’s efforts to give ground commanders more information about hostile Integrated Air Defense Systems.
“We’re excited to have new capability on the Army Gray Eagle,” said David R. Alexander, president of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. “Combining long-range detection with the range and persistence of the Gray Eagle ensures that commanders always know when an adversary’s IADS is operating.”
General Atomics said Gray Eagle’s open systems architecture reduced the time and cost of adding the equipment. The aircraft’s modular design also allows further systems to be integrated as requirements change.
The company said the new capability enables more advanced teaming between crewed and uncrewed aircraft. That cooperation is intended to improve protection for crewed Army aircraft.
The ESM integration follows other Gray Eagle improvements demonstrated in U.S. European Command, Vanguard and Project Convergence Capstone 5 exercises. The announcement did not give detection ranges, detailed flight-test results or a fielding schedule.
