General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagle
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems · United States · first flew 2004 · reconnaissance aircraft
The MQ-1C Gray Eagle is the US Army's larger, more capable derivative of the Predator drone family, built for longer-endurance reconnaissance and strike missions.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.53 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | V-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- slender high-aspect-ratio wing
- inverted V-tail
- pusher propeller behind a bulbous sensor nose
A slender high-aspect-ratio wing, an inverted V-tail and a pusher propeller behind a bulbous sensor nose, closely resembling the smaller MQ-1 Predator but larger overall.
Specifications
- The General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagle has a length of 8.53 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17 m (56 ft).
- Typical crew: 0 (remote).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 2004 and developed from the Predator airframe with a heavier-fuel piston engine and greater payload, the Gray Eagle entered US Army service to provide organic long-endurance surveillance and precision-strike capability.
Variants
Improved over successive blocks with extended wings, heavier fuel loads and additional weapons stations compared with the original Predator.
Where you'll see it
In active US Army service, flown for reconnaissance, surveillance and armed missions.
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