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General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has successfully completed its maiden flight test series of the Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) unmanned aircraft system, utilising a proliferated low-Earth orbit (PLEO) satellite constellation for aircraft communications.
Contracted by the US Army, the tests commenced in January 2025 and marked a major milestone – GE-ER is now the first US Army aircraft to be controlled via the new satellite service.
The Gray Eagle remains the sole US Army unmanned aircraft system (UAS) capable of harnessing communications from geostationary Earth orbit, low-Earth orbit and PLEO constellations. This unique capability delivers secure, inflight adaptable and resilient communication, navigation and data management.
During the initial tests, the focus was on flight-critical operations, including core aircraft control functions alongside sensor and communications systems.
To date, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has carried out two GE-ER flights, supported by a series of ground test events employing PLEO technology. Future plans include further flight trials that will cover the full spectrum of the flight regime.
The Gray Eagle family of UAS is built on a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), incorporating standardised interfaces and protocols. This design has allowed for the rapid integration of the PLEO constellation and other key capabilities without extensive technical challenges or delays. As a result, new features can be fielded much faster, ensuring the platform remains at the cutting edge.
Don Cattell, GA-ASI’s vice president of army programs, stated, “The PLEO integration and flight testing continue to show that the current GE-ER open architecture is real. We are practising rapid integration now, which will prove critical to the platform’s survivability and mission success in multi-domain operations.”
Building on the success of the GE-ER, the Gray Eagle 25M (GE 25M) takes the MOSA concept to new heights with a government-owned, government-controlled open architecture that offers plug and play capabilities. This design ensures rapid, low-cost adaptability to emerging threats.
The GE 25M features advanced ground systems, modular datalinks and an upgraded propulsion system – all of which significantly enhance the platform’s ability to quickly adopt new technologies, resist electronic threats and operate in austere, expeditionary environments. Notably, the integration of PLEO is set to become a baseline capability for the 25M system.
The PLEO capability in the GE 25M, among several other features, dramatically increases the platform’s operational flexibility. With the higher data rates available on the PLEO system, the GE 25M supports flight operations around the globe, from pole to pole.
Combined with longer-range sensors, anti-jam navigation and expeditionary ground control systems, the Gray Eagle platforms can operate well beyond the threat weapons envelope while delivering precision effects hundreds of kilometres from the forward line of own troops.
This makes the GE 25M one of the most survivable aircraft in the US Army’s inventory.
