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| Apache attack helicopters and Gray Eagle drones are seen at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, during the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, Aug. 23. Yonhap |
By Kang Seung-woo
The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has deployed an advanced version of one of its armed drones in Korea amid North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats.
According to the USFK, Wednesday, the U.S. Second Infantry Division, also known as the South Korea-U.S. combined division, has deployed 12 Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) unmanned aircraft systems at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. The GE-ER is a next-generation upgrade to the battle-proven Gray Eagle drone.
The original Gray Eagle, measuring eight meters in length and 18 meters in wingspan, is a medium-altitude, long-endurance combat drone that can stay aloft up to 30 hours from launch and can fly at a top speed of 280 kilometers per hour. The drone is capable of providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, and can carry four Hellfire air-to-ground anti-armor missiles, enabling the USFK to hit targets in North Korea.
The advanced version can stay in the air for 45 hours nonstop.
Previously, the USFK deployed a Gray Eagle drone unit as part of efforts to enhance warfighting capability at Kunsan Air Base in North Jeolla Province in February 2018, but it has relocated the base to USAG Humphreys, home to the USFK headquarters and the U.S.-led U.N. Command, after the upgrade of the GE-ER in February.
The drone can participate in manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) operations with Apache attack helicopters by protecting them in contested environments via a radar warning receiver.
The integrated reconnaissance platform is the first to have been applied by U.S. forces in an armed conflict.
"The main mission of the Gray Eagle is to conduct armed reconnaissance and allow Apache attack helicopters to hit targets, which was the same role as the earlier scout helicopter," said Shin Jong-woo, a senior researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum.
"However, what is different from the scout helicopter is the drone can carry out attacks independently with Hellfire missiles."
In May, the USFK launched an air cavalry squadron consisting of 24 new Apache attack helicopters.
In addition, it recently unveiled the Gray Eagle drones and Apache helicopters in action side by side during the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise in an apparent bid to display its combined defense posture and as a deterrent to North Korea.
In June, the United States announced its plan to sell four Gray Eagle drones to Ukraine as part of its efforts to support Kyiv in its war with Russia.
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