The US Army has selected General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) to integrate a cutting-edge modular electronic warfare (EW) capability onto its MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) unmanned aircraft system. The effort leverages the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) to rapidly prototype and field an adaptable EW suite that enhances the platform’s survivability and utility in multi-domain operations.
Gray Eagle ER: A Core ISR Asset Gets an EW Edge
The MQ-1C Gray Eagle ER has long served as a critical component of the US Army’s tactical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) architecture. With a 40-hour endurance and payload capacity exceeding 500 kg, the GE-ER supports persistent ISR and strike missions using EO/IR sensors, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.
However, the evolving threat environment—particularly in peer conflict scenarios—has underscored the need for layered electronic warfare capabilities at echelon. The integration of a MOSA-aligned EW payload marks a significant step toward transforming the Gray Eagle from a sensor-shooter platform into an active participant in the electromagnetic spectrum contest.
MOSA-EW Initiative: Rapid Prototyping for Multi-Domain Operations
The new capability is being developed under the US Army Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors (PEO IEW&S), specifically through Project Linchpin—a rapid prototyping initiative aimed at accelerating delivery of modular mission systems. According to official sources and GA-ASI press materials reviewed by MiliVox, this MOSA-EW payload is designed to be plug-and-play across multiple airborne platforms.
Key features of the MOSA-EW system include:
- Open architecture compliance with CMOSS (C5ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards) and SOSA (Sensor Open Systems Architecture)
- Modular hardware/software stack enabling rapid reconfiguration against emerging threats
- Multi-function capability: detection, geolocation, jamming of RF emitters across VHF-UHF bands
- AI-enabled signal processing for real-time threat classification and prioritization
This approach aligns with DoD-wide mandates to adopt open standards that reduce vendor lock-in while accelerating tech refresh cycles. It also supports joint all-domain command and control (JADC2) objectives by enabling cross-platform data fusion and tasking.
Operational Implications in Contested Airspace
The addition of organic EW capabilities significantly enhances the survivability and utility of the Gray Eagle in contested environments such as Eastern Europe or Indo-Pacific theaters. In these regions, adversaries deploy dense integrated air defense systems (IADS), GPS spoofing/jamming assets, and advanced SIGINT platforms capable of detecting traditional ISR drones.
With onboard EW tools:
- The GE-ER can conduct spectrum shaping operations, masking friendly movements or degrading enemy situational awareness.
- The platform can support SEAD/DEAD missions indirectly, by jamming or geo-locating enemy radars ahead of kinetic strikes.
- Tactical units benefit from real-time SIGINT feeds, improving force protection during maneuver operations.
This makes the upgraded Gray Eagle more than just an ISR asset—it becomes a node in the Army’s distributed electromagnetic maneuver warfare concept.
Platform Integration Challenges and Timeline
Integrating high-power EW payloads onto Group IV UAS like the MQ-1C presents several technical hurdles. These include:
- Power management: Balancing onboard generation with avionics/sensor loads during long-endurance missions.
- Spectrum deconfliction: Avoiding interference with existing comms/navigation systems on board.
- Cooling requirements: Managing thermal loads from high-duty-cycle transmitters in confined airframes.
The current effort is structured as a phased rapid prototyping program under Other Transaction Authority (OTA). Initial flight testing is expected by late FY2025 at Dugway Proving Ground or Yuma Test Center. If successful, low-rate initial production could begin as early as FY2027 for fielding within select Multi-Domain Task Forces (MDTFs).
A Broader Shift Toward Modular Mission Payloads on UAS Fleets
This move reflects broader trends across all services toward modularity in unmanned platforms. The Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray refueling drone uses open interfaces for future ISR/EW pods; USAF’s MQ-9 Reaper Block 5 upgrades include digital backbone enhancements for multi-mission pods; even smaller Group III UAVs like ALTIUS are receiving MOSA-based payload architectures under SOCOM initiatives.
The strategic rationale is clear:
- Sustainability: Easier tech refresh without full airframe redesigns.
- Tactical flexibility: Reconfigure loadouts based on mission needs—SIGINT today; comms relay tomorrow.
- Ecosystem innovation: Enables third-party vendors to develop compliant modules faster via published interface standards.
If successful on Gray Eagle ER, this MOSA-EW integration could serve as a template for future upgrades across US Army aviation—including Future Vertical Lift platforms like the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA).
Conclusion: Toward Electromagnetic Maneuver Dominance at Echelon
The integration of modular electronic warfare capabilities onto long-endurance tactical UAVs represents more than just another sensor pod—it signals doctrinal evolution toward electromagnetic dominance at echelon. For GA-ASI and PEO IEW&S alike, this program will test not only technical feasibility but also acquisition agility under real-world timelines.
If successful through testing phases in FY2025–2026, this capability could redefine how unmanned assets are tasked—not just to observe or strike—but to actively shape contested battlespace conditions through non-kinetic means. That shift may prove decisive in future large-scale combat operations where spectrum superiority could outweigh firepower alone.
