[Yang Nakgyu's Defence Club] North Command Targeted: 'Gray Eagle' Revealed for the First Time

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The latest unmanned reconnaissance and attack drone, the "Gray Eagle" (MQ-1C), deployed at Camp Humphreys of the US Forces Korea, has been unveiled. This is the first time the US Forces Korea has revealed the Gray Eagle, which is seen as a warning message against the possibility of North Korea provoking with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and other provocations around the time of the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration in January next year.

On the 7th, the 4th Battalion of the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division stationed at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, released photos on Facebook showing the deployment of the Gray Eagle (MQ-1C) and Apache Guardian.

The US Forces Korea had already deployed six Gray Eagles at Gunsan Air Base in Jeonbuk. It has not been disclosed whether the Gray Eagle revealed this time was forward-deployed from Gunsan Air Base or newly deployed additionally. The US Forces Korea held a Gray Eagle company inauguration ceremony at Gunsan Air Base in February 2018 and has been gradually introducing the Gray Eagle. Initially, the US Forces Korea planned to introduce 12 Gray Eagles for full-scale operation, but the budget for Gray Eagle facilities was diverted to the construction of the Mexico border wall, delaying the introduction.

The Gray Eagle, an upgraded version of the Predator (MQ-1), is a medium-altitude unmanned aircraft with a length of 8 meters and a wingspan of 17 meters, capable of flying up to 30 hours at a maximum speed of 280 km/h. It has the ability to conduct 24-hour continuous flights and high-definition surveillance over the entire Korean Peninsula. Notably, it can be equipped with four Hellfire anti-tank missiles capable of attacking enemy tanks about 8 km away and four latest small precision-guided bombs GBU-44/B "Viper Strike." In case of emergency, it can directly strike major targets north of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in North Korea. This implies it can also be used for elimination operations against the North Korean regime's top leadership or commanders.

The Gray Eagle can conduct joint operations with the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) to attack North Korean mechanized units and air-cushioned landing craft with missiles in emergencies. It also has the function of transmitting enemy movements to the Apache helicopter in real-time to guide precise attacks. The unmanned drone is sent first to reconnoiter enemy territory, and the following Apache Guardian attack helicopter receives reconnaissance information from the drone to attack from behind. In the future, the Apache Guardian attack helicopter is expected to have the capability to directly control the drone. The US Forces Korea’s simultaneous unveiling of the Apache helicopter this time appears to emphasize the possibility of manned-unmanned joint operations.

Meanwhile, the US Forces Korea is also known to deploy six additional Gray Eagle-ER (Extended Range) drones within this year. The Gray Eagle-ER has about 50% longer flight time and increased armament capacity compared to the existing Gray Eagle, as well as the capability to guide anti-ship ballistic missiles capable of striking North Korean naval vessels.

The Gray Eagle-ER is an upgraded version of the Gray Eagle unmanned attack drone (MQ-1C) capable of flying more than 40 hours. Its armament includes Hellfire anti-tank missiles and the latest small precision-guided bombs GBU-44/B "Viper Strike," capable of attacking enemy tanks about 8 km away, with a total bomb and missile payload of about 1 ton. It has a wingspan of 17.4 meters, length of 8.1 meters, maximum speed of 280 km/h, and maximum takeoff weight of 1,890 kg. It is also equipped with Lynx Block 30A long-range radar and Synthetic Aperture Radar/Ground Moving Target Indicator (SAR/GMTI) to detect targets up to 75 km away.

Military analyst Kim Dae-young said, "It appears that the deployment of the Gray Eagle is aimed at strengthening reconnaissance capabilities in preparation for future provocations by North Korea, while simultaneously promoting manned-unmanned joint operations with Apache attack helicopters."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.