U.S. Army National Guard Orders 12 Gray Eagle 25M Drones

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) announced that the Army National Guard (ARNG) has placed an order for 12 Gray Eagle 25M (GE 25M) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

This procurement is funded by 2023 congressional allocations, responding to ARNG leaders' requests to enhance their divisions' Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) capabilities.

ARNG, comprising 45% of the U.S. Army's combat divisions, aims to mirror the active component in terms of deployability and operational readiness, including coordination with the newly formed Division Artillery Brigades (DIVARTY). The GE 25M systems will also support domestic missions like homeland defense and disaster response.

The GE 25M, an upgraded version of the Gray Eagle, is designed to meet the U.S. Army's MDO requirements for both active duty and National Guard units. It features the EagleEye multi-mode radar and electro-optical/infrared sensors and can carry various additional payloads. The inclusion of GE 25Ms in ARNG Divisions will enable comprehensive mission planning, targeting, communications, detailed coordination, and realistic training essential for successful combat employment. For the first time, ARNG Divisions will benefit from Divisional Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA).

Patrick Shortsleeve, GA-ASI Vice President of DoD Strategic Development, emphasized the aircraft's role in supporting Fires, Maneuver, Network, and Intelligence operations, and its integration with manned rotary-wing systems to achieve strategic overmatch.

The GE 25M completed its maiden flight on December 5, 2023, shortly after the announcement of an undefinitized contract award on December 1, 2023, for the production of the Gray Eagle 25M Production Representative Test Aircraft.