Jane Edwards
The Army has unveiled its plans to update the data link of MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft systems.
A request for information posted Aug. 27 asks for vendors that can provide receivers, antennas, modems and satellite communication components for the drone’s data link system.
The Army wants to equip the drone with a ground SATCOM tool, new Tactical Common Data Link antennas and a fourth modem to help the data link to communicate on multiple bands.
Limitations of Gray Eagle’s TCDL to communicate emerged during a series of manned-unmanned teaming tests in which Apache helicopter crews worked to control the Gray Eagle from the cockpit, according to a Breaking Defense report.
Interested companies can submit their responses to the RFI until Oct. 16.
