Gray Eagle Upgrades, STOL/VTOL Acquisition, and Rapid Brigade UAS Fielding in the Works
Despite halting future purchases of the Gray Eagle drone and canceling the Future Tactical Uncrewed Aircraft System (FTUAS) competition, the US Army is moving forward with plans to acquire new drones for both division and brigade echelons, according to a senior Army leader.
Gray Eagle: Newer Variants to be Upgraded, Older Models Phased Out
Col. Nick Ryan, director of the Army Capability Manager for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, revealed that the Army intends to retain and upgrade newer Gray Eagle drones, while phasing out older variants around fiscal year 2028. To ensure division commanders continue to have reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting, and acquisition capabilities, the Army plans to acquire a new Group 4 or 5 platform that doesn’t require a runway.
Short Takeoff and Landing/Vertical Takeoff and Landing (STOL/VTOL) Aircraft on the Horizon
Following a request for information (RFI) released in June 2024, Ryan anticipates a final requirements decision from senior leaders within the next two to three months. The Army aims to begin fielding the STOL/VTOL aircraft with a target date of FY28.
General Atomics Ready to Compete
While Ryan did not provide details of a forthcoming competition, it was reported in September 2024 that there were over 10 responses to the RFI. General Atomics spokesman C. Mark Brinkley has affirmed his company’s intent to participate in any potential competition, highlighting the Gray Eagle 25M and Gray Eagle STOL aircraft as a „true 1-2 punch” for Army aviation.
Brigade UAS: Rapid Fielding of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf Solution
With the cancellation of the FTUAS program and the phasing out of the Shadow drone, brigades currently lack unmanned aircraft system capabilities. However, Ryan emphasized that the requirement for a brigade-level UAS capability remains valid. To address this need, the Army is leveraging an existing brigade UAS directed requirement designed to rapidly field a commercial-off-the-shelf solution.
FTUAS Vendors Re-Engage in New Competition
The Army reopened the competition, allowing the two vendors from the canceled FTUAS program, Griffon and Textron, to compete alongside other vendors. A decision on the winner or winners is pending senior Army leadership approval and funding allocation.
Fiscal 2026: New Brigade Drones Possible
The Army could begin purchasing the new brigade drones in fiscal year 2026, while simultaneously exploring future platforms to fulfill the brigade’s needs. The initial Group 3 UAS acquisition is envisioned as a „tranche one” capability, with rapid iteration and planning for future „tranche two,” „tranche three,” and „tranche four” capabilities already underway.
