General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has confirmed the successful combat testing of its MQ-1C Gray Eagle drone equipped with the AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missile and an onboard radar.
During the test, the system was able to intercept and destroy a small unmanned aerial system, GA-ASI spokesperson Mark Brinkley told The War Zone, adding that while there's been a boom in new anti-drone solutions, the use of a Hellfire missile in this context is "a new and intriguing development."
Read more: Shield AI Details the Number of V-BAT Drone Missions Flown by its Task Force in Ukraine
Originally designed as an anti-tank weapon, the Longbow variant of the Hellfire features an active radar seeker, providing the Gray Eagle with a surprisingly simple counter-drone solution. That is, if we forget about the missile's price.
Brinkley also noted that this isn’t the only counter-UAS upgrade in the pipeline for the MQ-1C. The company is preparing to unveil additional anti-drone systems that are more cost-effective and flexible, possibly alluding to laser-guided munitions akin to standard Hellfire — or APKWS, which is currently being integrated into F-16 fighter.
It’s worth recalling that in 2023, General Atomics had ambitions to enhance the Gray Eagle into a compact AWACS with the Eagle Eye synthetic aperture radar. With relatively compact dimensions and light weight of 62 kg, this radar system already can detect aerial targets at ranges up to 80 km, and performance is expected to improve with future upgrades.
Additionally, General Atomics recently showcased a laser weapon pod on its MQ-9B SkyGuardian drone of the same class. While directed energy systems are still evolving and come with their own challenges like integration and power supply, Brinkley assured that the company already has "very mature laser technology."
General Atomics Unveils Laser Combat Module for MQ-9B Drone::https://t.co/GRILbOFhNd#MQ9B #LaserWeapon #DroneDefense #GeneralAtomics #HELWS #MilitaryTech #DirectedEnergy #RedSea #UkraineConflict #AirDefense #DefenseTechnology #Drones #Tryzub #CruiseMissileDefense pic.twitter.com/q7hUDlNQNg— DefenseMirror (@DefenseMirror) April 14, 2025
Read more: Like in Star Wars: France Presents HELMA-LP, a Real Combat Blaster
