General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. was awarded a $13,473,894 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to supply an alternate heavy fuel engine kit upgrade for the Gray Eagle.
The award will provide for the modification of an existing contract to upgrade a Block O Gray Eagle with an alternate heavy fuel engine kit and procure 20 long lead 2.0 liter engines and spares.
As risk mitigation to the Block O programme , General Atomics is exploring alternative heavy-fuel engines and will be flight testing a new engine on this first aircraft at its El Mirage Flight Operations Facility. If the testing goes well, all 11 Block O aircraft will potentially be upgraded with the new engine.
Work will be performed in Poway, California, with an estimated completion date of July 29, 2012. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-11-C-0001).
Source: Defence Professionals; General Atomics