Gray Eagle Takes Part in Manned-Unmanned Teaming over South Korea
Photo: GA-ASI.
A U.S. Army Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft recently conducted manned-unmanned teaming exercises in South Korea, which included streaming video and metadata to an AH-64 Apache helicopter while in flight.
The video and data, sent over long distances, could then be sent from the Apache to ground forces, who could view it using a One System Remote Video Terminal. Field commanders in the Tactical Operations Center could view video from both aircraft.
“These flights represent 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,” says Frank W. Pace, president, Aircraft Systems, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, maker of the Gray Eagle. “They also marked a new company milestone for Gray Eagle with its first mission in South Korean airspace.”
The flights occurred in August and were announced by the company on Nov. 18. Once the Gray Eagle was in the air, U.S. ground forces sent contact reports and target coordinates to operators using the ground control station, and operators were able to direct the UAS’ sensors to identify and track the targets.
