U.S. Army Gray Eagle ESM Flight-Tested to Hunt Enemy SAM Radars Beyond Their Reach

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems completed flight testing of Sierra Nevada Company's Electronic Support Measures payload on the U.S. Army's MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range aircraft. Announced on October 15, 2026, the passive sensor is designed to detect, identify and locate hostile air-defense emitters while the aircraft remains outside their weapon-engagement zones. The integration follows an April contract to enhance the fleet's electronic-intelligence capabilities, working with SNC and the Army's intelligence and spectrum-warfare acquisition organization. The announcement did not provide test dates, location, measured performance or an operational fielding schedule for the new payload.