Gray Eagle – The Defense Post

Apr- 2026 -

16 April

Drones - Latest News, Features & Expert Opinion

US Army Moves to Enhance Gray Eagle Survivability With ELINT Upgrade

The US Army has awarded General Atomics a contract to upgrade its MQ-1C Gray Eagle with enhanced electronic intelligence capabilities.

Dec- 2025 -

17 December

Air

U.S. Army soldiers with 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, conduct pre-flight checks on an MQ-1C Gray Eagle during the Battalion Distributed Operations Course at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Oct. 20, 2021. The soldiers integrated seamlessly with U.S. Marines on the ground and in the sky, providing ground commanders with superior reconnaissance, overwatch, and marking targets by laser for the Aviation Combat Element whilst maintaining the ability to utilize their own AGM-114 Hellfire Missile. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Shane T. Beaubien)

Rojoef Manuel

US Kicks Off Gray Eagle Replacement With Runway-Free Drone Challenge

The US Army has launched a new industry challenge to identify runway-independent unmanned aerial systems as it moves to replace the MQ-1C Gray Eagle, which service leaders have deemed increasingly outdated for future combat operations.

Oct- 2025 -

15 October

Air

Rojoef Manuel

General Atomics, Hanwha to Co-Develop Gray Eagle STOL Drone

GA-ASI and South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace have signed an agreement to jointly design and build the Gray Eagle Short Takeoff and Landing drone.

14 October

Air

Rojoef Manuel

General Atomics Boosts US Army Gray Eagle Drone With New EW Upgrade

The US Army has contracted General Atomics to add a new electronic warfare system to its MQ-1C Gray Eagle drone, expanding the aircraft’s ability to detect and disrupt enemy communications and radar.

Aug- 2025 -

14 August

Air

Photo of a Tactical Unmanned Aerial System maintainer with 3rd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, conducting final preflight checks during operational tests of the new RQ–7B Shadow Block III system at Fort Bliss, Texas

Rojoef Manuel

US Army Targets New Fleets to Replace Gray Eagle, Shadow Drones

The US Army is preparing to phase out its MQ-1C Gray Eagle and RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aerial systems under the Army Transformation Initiative.

Apr- 2025 -

18 April

Air

Giulia Bernacchi

General Atomics Invests in Dutch Firms to Boost Future Aerospace Systems

General Atomics will invest in Dutch companies Emergent Swarm Solutions and Saluqi Motors to support the development of future systems.

10 April

Americas

Christine Casimiro

S. Korea, US Team Up to Build Advanced Drones for Global Export

Hanwha Aerospace has partnered with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to develop and produce advanced military drones for global export.

Mar- 2025 -

18 March

Air

Giulia Bernacchi

General Atomics Tests Gray Eagle With PLEO Satellite Communications

General Atomics has tested the Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) drone using the Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) satellite network.

Nov- 2024 -

22 November

Air

Rojoef Manuel

General Atomics Completes Tests of New Gray Eagle 25M Engine

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. has finalized the qualification trials of its new 200-horsepower heavy fuel engine for the Gray Eagle 25M unmanned aerial system in El Mirage, California.

18 November

Air

Giulia Bernacchi