General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) is set to deliver the Gray Eagle® 25M uncrewed aerial system (UAS) to the Army National Guard as part of a fleet of 60 next-generation, medium-altitude, long-endurance multi-mission aircraft that are scheduled to deploy alongside active-duty Army forces within the next two years.
The first 12 Gray Eagle 25M aircraft, funded in the 2023 budget, are scheduled for delivery beginning in 2027. This puts the Army National Guard on track to field one of the most advanced UAS platforms in its class.
GA-ASI’s Denny Winningham, a retired colonel of the Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment, commented, “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.”
While the Gray Eagle 25M is based on the Army’s existing Gray Eagle, reducing risk, cost, and development time compared to a completely new aircraft, it introduces major new capabilities. These enhancements will allow Army National Guard units to carry out missions beyond the reach of other forces.
Winningham added, “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 aircraft, advocates have proposed funding another 12 in the 2025 budget and an additional 36 in 2026. The 2025 funding would support the 40th Infantry Division, which includes units from California, Oregon, and Nevada. The 2026 allocation would 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 one of the Army’s key multi-echelon, multi-role systems, providing commanders with critical intelligence, attack protection, and operational awareness across all phases of conflict.
The 25M variant further enhances these features, ensuring Gray Eagle is ready for engagements with near-peer adversaries. It delivers the range, endurance, and persistent reconnaissance needed to address today’s security challenges, particularly in the Pacific.
Gray Eagle 25M upgrades 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 a wide range of kinetic and non-kinetic payloads
This system strengthens the Army National Guard’s role 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 be essential in making ARNG divisions fully deployable across a range of operations and ensuring 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 long advocated for proper staffing, training, and equipment for the Guard.
NGAUS collaborates with states to establish a credible capability for both domestic and overseas operations, emphasizing the need to outfit ARNG Infantry Divisions with the latest Gray Eagle variant.
General Atomics is working alongside NGAUS to respond to state-level requests for information, providing technical and operational expertise. Since each division spans multiple states, GA-ASI works with NGAUS to support state National Guard units throughout the congressional funding process.
Winningham stated, “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.”
With the acquisition of the Gray Eagle 25M, the Army National Guard is driving innovation in uncrewed aerial systems, pioneering advancements in sensor technology and operational methods such as runway-independent operations.
The Guard remains at the forefront of integrating the most modern and capable UAS available. As the 25M variant enters service alongside manned rotary-wing aircraft, the Army is on course to maintain superiority against emerging threats.
