Drone business in San Diego County got a major boost this week when the Pentagon announced that Poway-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems was awarded a $297 million Army contract.
According to the Department of Defense, the money will go toward logistics support and fleet sustainment operations for the armed Gray Eagle drone, including spares and repairs.
Work will be performed in Poway and Afghanistan with an estimated completion date of May 7, 2015, the Pentagon said Wednesday.
The Gray Eagle is technically called an “extended range/multipurpose unmanned aircraft system.”
General Atomics says Gray Eagle “offers a reliable, affordable, low-risk and compelling next-generation tactical UAS solution to meet challenging service requirements for persistent Reconniassance,Surveillance and Target Acquisition and attack operations.”
Gray Eagle can fly for 25 hours, at speeds up to 167 knots and operate up to 29,000 feet. It carried 1,075 pounds of internal and external payload, including four Hellfire missiles.
“Compared to the Predator predecessor, Gray Eagle’s Heavy Fuel Engine supports the Army’s ‘single fuel in the battlefield’ concept,” says General Atomics, “and provides increased horsepower and significantly improved fuel efficiency, utilizing either jet or diesel fuel.
