Neel Mehta
A General Atomics subsidiary has won a Program Excellence award from Aviation Week magazine in recognition of its Gray Eagle Extended Range unmanned aircraft system program.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.‘s program team that oversees GE-ER development efforts for the U.S. Army received the award in the original equipment manufacturer research and development/system design and development category during the publication’s Annual Program Excellence Awards ceremony held Oct. 23, the company said Tuesday.
David Alexander, president of GA-ASI’s aircraft systems unit, said the latest Gray Eagle variant offers increased system endurance and payload capacities designed to support Army mission tasking.
Developmental testing of the service branch’s first four GE-ER UAS units is underway and the company plans to conduct follow-on operational test and evaluation of the aircraft next spring.
GA-ASI expects to start deliveries of the platform to the Army beginning in summer 2018.
