Nichols Martin
General Atomics‘ aeronautical systems business and the U.S. Army have concluded the follow-on operational test and evaluation of a new extended-range unmanned aerial vehicle.
The conclusion of the MQ-1C ER Gray Eagle Extended Range‘s FOT&E phase culminated after 644 flight hours of testing that began June at Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, Calif., the company said Monday.
David Alexander, president of aircraft systems at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, said that the test exhibited the MQ-1C ER’s key Army-intended features such as boosted endurance, increased payload capacity and heightened system reliability and maintainability.
The Army Intelligence and Security Command and Special Operations Command may begin initial fielding of the MQ-1C ER following the tests.
