The MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aerial system has actually utilized the AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire rocket, in combination with its onboard radar, to shoot down a drone in live-fire tests, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has actually verified to TWZ.
While there is currently a major drive in the development of different counter-UAS systems including kinetic and non-kinetic options, using the Gray Eagle to lower drones utilizing Hellfire rockets is a brand-new and intriguing development.GA-ASI has actually demonstrated live-fire takedown using Longbow Hellfire from Gray Eagle to get rid of a small UAS, C.
Mark Brinkley, a company spokesperson, told TWZ.
Equipping the adaptable Gray Eagle with Hellfire missiles is not the only counter-UAS alternative that GA-ASI is presently pursuing with this platform.A Hellfire-armed MQ-1C Gray Eagle running out of Dugway Proving Ground, Utah.
U.S.
ArmyAdditionally, our company-funded, live-fire demonstration of podded miniguns from Gray Eagle STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) performed last year offers another interesting and economical kinetic option for counter-UAS operations, Brinkley included.
These flying trash bin just arent built to stand up to incoming 7.62 mm rounds, and the miniguns might use other armed overwatch choices not previously explored.This is a reference to the Dillon Aero DAP-6 Minigun pods, a weapon system that has actually been live-fire tested from the GA-ASI Mojave demonstrator drone at the U.S.
Armys Yuma Proving Ground.General Atomics Brinkley stated the company plans to unveil a brand-new kinetic alternative for Gray Eagle STOL in the next couple of months that would even more reduce the price for C-UAS response, while also increasing precision and flexibility.
Its uncertain if this is a referral to the abovementioned Longbow Hellfire, although the reference to minimized costs would seem to indicate another, less expensive option, perhaps a laser-guided rocket.As well as kinetic and non-kinetic methods of lowering hostile drones, GA-ASI has actually also adjusted onboard sensors to permit its drones to detect, track, and after that engage the UAS in the very first place.We have actually carried out many flight tests utilizing our Lynx and EagleEye radar systems for target acquisition and tracking of small UAS, Brinkley confirmed.The EagleEye synthetic aperture radar can detect and track ground targets out to 50 miles and maritime targets out to 124 miles, although its capability versus aerial risks is not currently known.
With a new active digitally scanned range (AESA) antenna and associated software for EagleEye being established, this will even more increase its range and include to its multi-mode performance.These flight tests are particularly substantial in that they have actually utilized the proprietary GA-ASI radars in an air-to-air mode to provide detection, consisting of in the crucial look-down mode, and onboard weapons cueing.Source: The War Zone