As drones continue to rise in popularity, state and non-state actors alike are seeking to upgrade their existing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fleets. Over the summer, the US Army indicated its plans to pause acquisitions of the MQ-1C “Gray Eagle” drone series in order to make room for newer and more advanced successors. According to a joint memo released by the Army chief of staff and Army secretary, the tried and trusted drone series is not expected to be able to contend with a rapidly expanding UAV environment. “We will cancel procurement of outdated crewed attack aircraft such as the AH-64D … and obsolete UAVs like the Gray Eagle,” the pair stated. “Our Army must transform now to a leaner, more lethal force by infusing technology, cutting obsolete systems, and reducing overhead to defeat any adversary on an ever-changing battlefield.”

Since this announcement was made back in May, the Army has kicked off its official search to field the Gray Eagle’s........

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