Soaring High: GA-ASI’s Eaglet Embarks on Its Maiden Voyage
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) conducted a novel flight of a resilient Air-Launched Effect (ALE) for the inaugural time as part of a flight exhibition at the Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah on December 8, 2022. The ALE, referred to as Eaglet, was deployed from a U.S. Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The Eaglet flight was collaboratively financed by GA-ASI and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development (DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory (ARL) alongside the Aviation & Missile Center (AvMC).
“The debut flight of the Eaglet marked a significant achievement for the GA-ASI/U.S. Army partnership,” stated GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “Eaglet is designed to be a cost-effective, durable UAS with the functionality to be deployed from a Gray Eagle, rotary-wing aircraft, or land vehicles. It enhances sensor reach and amplifies lethality while ensuring the safety of manned aircraft.”
Eaglet is categorized under the ‘ALE Large’ classification, which includes larger, more robust sensors or payloads. Due to its configuration, Eaglet can transport a wide array of payloads to support various Army missions.
The Eaglet configuration broadens battlefield alternatives for commanders while streamlining their decision-making processes. Gray Eagle can carry Eaglet for extensive distances before its launch, controlled via unmanned-unmanned collaboration or as a part of advanced command and control concepts.
Eaglet can collaborate with other long-range payloads that are also deployed by Gray Eagles, helicopters, or other platforms to bolster deep sensing capabilities in Multi-Domain Operations.
Following this successful Eaglet flight, GA-ASI intends to partner with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to incorporate it into further exercises to explore its potential. The Eaglet represents the latest addition to GA-ASI’s Evolution Series of cutting-edge UAS innovations.
