Hughes and General Atomics Partner to Enhance Communications for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle 25M Drone.

On April 9, 2024, Hughes Network Systems, an EchoStar company, announced it has been awarded a production contract by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to produce a key component of the next-generation satellite communications (SATCOM) system for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle 25M Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS).
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 General Atomics Next-Gen MQ-1C Gray Eagle 25M Drone (Picture source: General Atomics)

Under this contract, Hughes will supply rugged HM400 modems, designated HM400T, which integrate with the Department of Defense's (DoD) standard waveform technology and transmission security (TRANSEC) features to significantly enhance the endurance and resilience of the Gray Eagle 25M across a broad spectrum of Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (AISR) missions, particularly in contested environments.

Rick Lober, vice president and general manager of the Defense and Government Systems Division at Hughes, stated, "Hughes is eager to support GA-ASI with a secure and cost-effective communications architecture that delivers the speed, flexibility, and resilience needed to meet next-generation mission requirements." This production contract reaffirms Hughes' commitment to GA-ASI and, by extension, the U.S. Army and this program of record, ensuring enhanced communication and ISR capabilities for today's multi-domain operations.

Hughes is producing advanced, ruggedized HM400T modems that integrate with the DoD’s standard Enhanced Bandwidth Efficient Modulation (EBEM) waveform technology and TRANSEC features. This advanced, customized commercial technology based on software is derived from the HM400 modem, which is used on the GA-ASI MQ-9B UAS. The HM400T includes a ruggedized container for high-altitude applications, meets reduced size, weight, and power (SWAP) requirements, and supports government-approved waveforms to ensure resilient ISR transmissions for the U.S. Army’s next-generation Gray Eagle 25M, MQ-1C, UAS, and its long-endurance missions.

This next-generation UAS will support the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army National Guard to meet the demands of upcoming unmanned and manned teaming operations and help fill the growing Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Attack (RSTA) gap. After completing the development phase, GA-ASI awarded Hughes the initial production units; Hughes will begin delivering these communication systems in the spring. This highly advanced UAS platform supports worldwide ISR missions.