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General Atomics Tested Gray Eagle ER UAS Using Proliferated Low Earth Orbit Satellites - The Aviationist

GA-ASI Gray Eagle ER

Gray Eagle UAS Makes Aviation History with PLEO Satellite Integration

By Tech Defense Reporter
March 16, 2025

In a significant advancement for military unmanned aerial technology, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has successfully completed the first flight tests of its Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) unmanned aircraft system using cutting-edge Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) satellite communications.

The milestone testing, which began in January 2025 under a U.S. Army contract, positions the Gray Eagle as the first Army aircraft to operate with the new satellite service, marking a revolutionary step forward in battlefield communications and command capabilities.

Breaking New Ground in Military Communications

According to GA-ASI's announcement on March 12, the Gray Eagle now stands as the only U.S. Army unmanned aerial system capable of seamlessly integrating with three distinct satellite constellations: Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and the newer PLEO networks. This triple-constellation capability provides unprecedented communication flexibility, enhanced navigation precision, and resilient data management for military operations.

"This represents a quantum leap in battlefield connectivity," said military technology analyst Dr. Sarah Chen. "The ability to switch between satellite constellations provides redundancy that significantly reduces vulnerability to electronic warfare and ensures mission continuity even in contested environments."

Testing Progress and Future Plans

The initial testing phase concentrated on flight-critical operations, with special attention to core aircraft control functions and the integration of sensor and communications systems. To date, GA-ASI has completed two successful GE-ER flights utilizing PLEO connectivity, alongside numerous ground test events.

The company has indicated that more extensive testing is already in planning stages, which will expand operations across the full flight regime to thoroughly validate all operational parameters.

Modular Open Systems Approach: The Key to Rapid Integration

Central to the Gray Eagle's adaptability is its Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) design architecture, featuring standardized interfaces and protocols. This forward-thinking design philosophy has enabled the rapid integration of PLEO constellation capabilities without requiring extensive technical modifications or lengthy testing timelines.

Don Cattell, GA-ASI's Vice President of Army Programs, emphasized the importance of this approach: "The PLEO integration and flight testing continue to show that the current GE-ER open architecture is real. We are practicing rapid integration now which will prove critical to the platform's survivability and mission success in Multi-Domain Operations."

The Next Generation: Gray Eagle 25M

Building on the success of the GE-ER, the advanced Gray Eagle 25M (GE 25M) model takes the MOSA concept even further with a government-owned, government-controlled open architecture system. This enhanced design enables plug-and-play capabilities that ensure rapid, low-cost adaptability to emerging threats.

The GE 25M incorporates several significant upgrades, including:

  • A new 200 horsepower Heavy Fuel Engine (HFE 2.0)
  • Advanced, modular datalinks
  • Eagle Eye multi-mode radar with moving target indication
  • AI-ML (Artificial Intelligence-Machine Learning) capabilities
  • Upgraded propulsion system
  • Laptop-based ground control station for improved mobility

Military experts note that PLEO will serve as a baseline capability for the 25M system, providing substantially higher data rates and supporting global flight operations "from pole to pole."

Strategic Implications

The integration of PLEO capabilities represents a critical enhancement to the Gray Eagle platform's survivability in contested environments. When combined with longer-range sensors, anti-jam navigation, and expeditionary ground control systems, the GE 25M can operate safely outside threat weapons envelopes while still delivering effects hundreds of kilometers beyond friendly lines.

Defense analysts suggest this development comes at a crucial time, as near-peer adversaries continue to develop sophisticated anti-access/area denial capabilities designed to limit U.S. military effectiveness.

"What we're seeing with the Gray Eagle PLEO integration is the future of unmanned aerial systems," said retired Air Force Colonel James Harrison. "The ability to leverage multiple satellite constellations provides the kind of resilience and adaptability that will be essential in any future conflict."

With over 8 million flight hours logged across its Predator line of unmanned aircraft systems, GA-ASI continues to demonstrate its leadership in developing long-endurance, multi-mission platforms that deliver persistent situational awareness and rapid strike capabilities for modern warfighters.

General Atomics Tested Gray Eagle ER UAS Using Proliferated Low Earth Orbit Satellites - The Aviationist

About the MQ-1C Gray Eagle ER UAS

The Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) is an advanced unmanned aircraft system (UAS) developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI). It is an upgraded version of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle, designed to provide the U.S. Army with increased endurance, payload capacity, and operational flexibility.

Key Features and Capabilities:

  1. Extended Endurance

    • The GE-ER can fly for 40+ hours, significantly more than its predecessor.
    • This allows for longer reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) missions.

  2. Increased Payload Capacity

    • Can carry multi-mission payloads, including sensors, radars, and weapons.
    • Capable of deploying Hellfire missiles, bombs, and electronic warfare equipment.

  3. Improved Engine and Fuel Capacity

    • Features a heavy fuel engine (HFE) for better efficiency and reliability.
    • Larger fuel tanks contribute to its extended range and endurance.

  4. Advanced Sensors and Communication Systems

    • Equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR), electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, and signals intelligence (SIGINT) payloads.
    • Satellite communications (SATCOM) enable beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) operations.

  5. Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) Ready

    • Integrates with the U.S. Army's network-centric warfare strategy.
    • Supports manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) with Apache helicopters and other assets.

  6. Increased Takeoff Weight and Wing Span

    • The increased wingspan (56 feet) provides additional lift.
    • Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is 4,200 lbs, supporting heavier payloads.

  7. Battlefield Resilience and Survivability

    • Features redundant systems for increased reliability.
    • Designed to operate in contested environments with electronic warfare (EW) resistance.

Operational Use and Deployment

  • Primarily used by the U.S. Army for ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) and precision strike missions.
  • Provides real-time battlefield awareness, supporting ground troops and special operations forces (SOF).
  • Plays a key role in counterterrorism, border security, and large-scale combat operations.

The Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) enhances the Army’s ability to conduct persistent, high-endurance ISR and strike missions, making it a valuable asset in modern warfare.

3 Reasons Why the DISA's PLEO Contract is Revolutionary - SES Space and Defense 

PLEO SATCOM

Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) satellite communications refer to networks of multiple small satellites deployed in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) (typically 500–2,000 km above Earth) to provide resilient, high-bandwidth, and low-latency connectivity for military, commercial, and governmental applications.

Key Features of PLEO Satellite Communications

1. Large Constellations for Coverage & Redundancy

  • Unlike traditional Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites (at ~35,786 km), PLEO systems use hundreds or thousands of satellites for global coverage.
  • Examples: SpaceX’s Starlink, OneWeb, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and military/government-focused BlackSky, Telesat Lightspeed, and SDA’s Transport Layer.

2. Low Latency & High Bandwidth

  • LEO satellites have latency as low as 20–50 ms, much lower than GEO systems (~600 ms).
  • Supports high-speed, real-time communications, crucial for military command, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance), and remote operations.

3. Enhanced Resilience & Anti-Jamming

  • Distributed architecture reduces the risk of losing network functionality due to enemy attacks, space debris, or technical failures.
  • Frequency-hopping, beam steering, and encryption improve anti-jamming and cybersecurity measures.
  • Essential for military communications in contested environments where traditional SATCOM may be vulnerable.

4. Rapid Deployment & Scalability

  • PLEO networks can be deployed faster and at a lower cost than large, single-satellite systems.
  • Modular and scalable, allowing for network expansion as needed.

5. Multi-Domain & Military Applications

  • U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) is building a Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), including a Transport Layer (for secure comms) and a Tracking Layer (for missile warning/tracking).
  • U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and allied forces are integrating PLEO for real-time targeting, battlefield connectivity, and strategic operations.
  • Improves interoperability with AI-driven decision-making, UAVs, and cyber warfare operations.

6. Commercial & Government Dual-Use

  • Used for both commercial broadband (SpaceX Starlink, OneWeb) and classified military/government operations.
  • Increasing adoption by disaster response teams, intelligence agencies, and remote field operations.

Challenges of PLEO SATCOM

  • Space congestion & debris risks with thousands of satellites.
  • Network management & interoperability with existing GEO/MEO SATCOM.
  • Vulnerability to cyberattacks despite encryption and hardening efforts.
  • Ground station reliance—requires robust terrestrial infrastructure to process data.

Future Outlook

PLEO satellite communications will play a key role in next-gen military networks, AI-driven warfare, and global broadband expansion, making them a critical enabler of resilient, secure, and high-speed connectivity in the modern era.

 Sources:

Here are the bibliographic citations for the sources referenced in the previous responses:

1. Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) Unmanned Aircraft System:

2. Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) Satellite Communications:

  • Space Development Agency. (n.d.). FAQ. Space Development Agency. Retrieved March 16, 2025, https://www.sda.mil/home/about-us/faq/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

  • Everything RF Editorial Team. (2022, May 7). What is a Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (pLEO) Constellation?. Everything RF. Retrieved March 16, 2025, https://www.everythingrf.com/community/what-is-a-proliferated-low-earth-orbit-pleo-constellation

  • DefenseScoop. (2024, October 22). Proliferated LEO, hybrid cloud capabilities enable U.S. forces to operate effectively. DefenseScoop. Retrieved March 16, 2025, \

  • SpaceNews. (2024, October 22). Space Force to increase spending on low Earth orbit satellite services. SpaceNews. Retrieved March 16, 2025, 

  • Hughes. (2023, July 15). pLEO Contract Enables Space Force SATCOM Vision. Hughes. Retrieved March 16, 2025, 

  • Viasat. (2025, February 10). Viasat Wins Task Order Award to Provide U.S. Space Force with Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communications Capability. Viasat. Retrieved March 16, 2025, 


 

 

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General Atomics Tested Gray Eagle ER UAS Using Proliferated Low Earth Orbit Satellites - The Aviationist

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