General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) is supplying its Gray Eagle® 25M uncrewed aerial system (UAS) to the Army National Guard, with the initial 12 Gray Eagle 25M units scheduled for delivery starting in 2027.
These deliveries will be part of a fleet of 60 next-generation, medium-altitude, long-endurance multi-mission aircraft intended to be deployed alongside active-duty Army forces in the coming two years.
GA-ASI’s Denny Winningham, a retired colonel of the Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment, said, “Gray Eagles provide persistent presence at operationally relevant ranges for sensors, payloads, and launched effects while requiring no risk of our U.S. soldiers. When we operate, we put Gray Eagle 25M in danger, not a human pilot and crew.”
Although the Gray Eagle 25M is based on the Army’s existing Gray Eagle, reducing risk, cost, and development time compared to a completely new design, it brings significant new capabilities. These upgrades enable Army National Guard units to perform missions beyond the reach of other forces.
Winningham stated, “The new 25M model delivers the only relevant multi-domain operations capability available now and will sustain the Army National Guard as a relevant and reliable partner for active-duty divisions and cement the ARNG as the world’s premier combat reserve.”
In addition to the first 12 units, proposals are in place to fund an additional 12 aircraft in the 2025 budget and another 36 in 2026. The 2025 allocation will support the 40th Infantry Division, covering units from California, Oregon, and Nevada, while the 2026 funds will equip the 28th Infantry Division (Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Tennessee), the 35th Infantry Division (Kansas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma), and the 36th Infantry Division (Texas and Mississippi).
Gray Eagle 25M in Modern Warfare
Gray Eagle is a vital multi-echelon, multi-role system for the Army, delivering essential intelligence, attack protection, and operational awareness to commanders throughout all conflict stages. The 25M variant enhances these capabilities, ensuring that Gray Eagle is prepared for engagements with near-peer adversaries. It offers the range, endurance, and continuous reconnaissance required to meet current security challenges, particularly in the Pacific.
Key upgrades to the Gray Eagle 25M include:
- Anti-jam GPS
- Anti-jam SATCOM
- EagleEye® multi-mode synthetic aperture radar for tracking and targeting through cloud cover
- Electro-optical/infrared sensors
- Modular design supporting various kinetic and non-kinetic payloads
This system strengthens the Army National Guard’s involvement in multi-domain operations by providing an organic Divisional Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) capability for the first time. The Gray Eagle 25M will play a crucial role in making ARNG divisions fully deployable across various operations, contributing to the Army’s doctrine of achieving “no blood in first contact.”
Advocacy & Implementation
The push to equip the Army National Guard with the 25M has been driven by the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), which has consistently advocated for adequate staffing, training, and equipment for the Guard. NGAUS works alongside states to establish a reliable capability for both domestic and overseas operations, focusing on outfitting ARNG Infantry Divisions with the latest Gray Eagle variant.
General Atomics collaborates with NGAUS to respond to state-level requests for information, offering technical and operational expertise. As each division spans multiple states, GA-ASI partners with NGAUS to support state National Guard units through the congressional funding process.
Winningham added, “NGAUS has done incredible work raising awareness about the need for this program to move forward, as it does for any number of capabilities the Guard needs to perform its mission in the face of 21st century threats.
“They’re tireless advocates for our National Guard’s men and women and working alongside them to get this program where it is today has been an honor. It’s a very exciting time. I congratulate the Guard for their foresight in procuring these aircraft and for their commitment to our national defense.”
