The Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft systemUAV has performed manned-unmanned teaming with an AH-64 Apache helicopter during exercises in South Korea in August.
The Gray Eagle "streamed video and metadata via a line-of-sight data link directly to a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter from extended distances," according to a General Atomics news release. "The Apache subsequently was able to re-transmit the imagery to a One System Remote Video Terminal (OSRVT), allowing ground forces to view the video from the helicopter."
Commanders at the tactical operations center (TOC) were able to receive both live Gray Eagle streaming video and re-transmitted video sent by the Apache. "Once Gray Eagle was airborne, U.S. ground forces passed contact reports and target coordinates to operators in the aircraft's One System Ground Control Station (OSGCS)," General Atomics said. "The operators were then able to direct the Gray Eagle's sensors to positively identify and track the targets."
"These flights represents a major milestone for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle as they successfully demonstrated manned-unmanned teaming in South Korea and proved the aircraft's ability to conduct operations in diverse weather conditions that are typical on the Korean Peninsula," said General Atomics president Frank Pace. "They also marked a new company milestone for Gray Eagle with its first mission in South Korean airspace."
Michael Peck is a correspondent for Defense News and a columnist for the Center for European Policy Analysis. He holds an M.A. in political science from Rutgers University. Find him on X at @Mipeck1. His email is mikedefense1@gmail.com.
