MQ-1C Gray Eagle: Cost, Contracts & Timeline

Cost to the Government

Cost figures
Measure	Amount	Source
Program totals · 1
PE0305219A annual Gray Eagle RDT&EAnnual research appropriation/reference, not lifetime development cost. FY2025 figures in PB2025 are requests; PB2027 shows FY2025 actuals, FY2026 enacted/spend plan, FY2027 request.	$2.59M / yrNominal $; source budget basis	FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year
Unit costs · 1
Historical procurement budget / aircraftFY2023 $483M / 12. Program budget average, including associated scope; not a current Gray Eagle 25M flyaway quote.	$40.25MNominal $; budget-year program scope	FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024 · figure FY2023 · PB2025
Quantities · 2
U.S. inventoryA current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count.	Not established	—
U.S. procurement quantityNo comparable U.S. procurement quantity was established in this review.	Not established	—
Operating costs · 1
Annual operations & supportA complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures.	Not established	—

Program totals · 1

PE0305219A annual Gray Eagle RDT&EAnnual research appropriation/reference, not lifetime development cost. FY2025 figures in PB2025 are requests; PB2027 shows FY2025 actuals, FY2026 enacted/spend plan, FY2027 request.
FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year
$2.59M / yrNominal $; source budget basis

Unit costs · 1

Historical procurement budget / aircraftFY2023 $483M / 12. Program budget average, including associated scope; not a current Gray Eagle 25M flyaway quote.
FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024 · figure FY2023 · PB2025
$40.25MNominal $; budget-year program scope

Quantities · 2

U.S. inventoryA current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count.
Source not recorded
Not established
U.S. procurement quantityNo comparable U.S. procurement quantity was established in this review.
Source not recorded
Not established

Operating costs · 1

Annual operations & supportA complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures.
Source not recorded
Not established

Earlier observations · 6

Superseded estimates and prices, each in its original scope and dollar basis.

Earlier cost observations
Measure	Amount	Source
PE0305219A annual Gray Eagle RDT&E¹	$6.681M / yrNominal $; source budget basis	FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2025 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year
PE0305219A annual Gray Eagle RDT&E¹	$3.444M / yrNominal $; source budget basis	FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2026 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year
PE0305219A annual Gray Eagle RDT&E¹	$2.59M / yrNominal $; source budget basis	FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year
Annual aircraft procurement / modification funding²	$483MNominal $; source budget basis	FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024 · figure FY2023 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot
Annual aircraft procurement / modification funding²	$15MNominal $; source budget basis	FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024 · figure FY2024 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot
Annual aircraft procurement / modification funding²	$23.9MNominal $; source budget basis	FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024 · figure FY2025 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot

PE0305219A annual Gray Eagle RDT&E¹
FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2025 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year
$6.681M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
PE0305219A annual Gray Eagle RDT&E¹
FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2026 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year
$3.444M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
PE0305219A annual Gray Eagle RDT&E¹
FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year
$2.59M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
Annual aircraft procurement / modification funding²
FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024 · figure FY2023 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot
$483MNominal $; source budget basis
Annual aircraft procurement / modification funding²
FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024 · figure FY2024 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot
$15MNominal $; source budget basis
Annual aircraft procurement / modification funding²
FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024 · figure FY2025 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot
$23.9MNominal $; source budget basis

¹Annual research appropriation/reference, not lifetime development cost. FY2025 figures in PB2025 are requests; PB2027 shows FY2025 actuals, FY2026 enacted/spend plan, FY2027 request.

²Annual program funding in the cited budget vintage; not a unit price, contract award, or actual delivery count.

Recent funding sustains an existing fleet

PB2025 identifies engines and navigation upgrades. It does not request new air vehicles in the displayed FY2025 column; this does not imply zero fleet inventory.

FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024

Support estimates include more than fuel and flying hours

GAO identifies 31% lifetime O&S growth in the FY2023 review, including longer service, crew and maintainer costs and previously omitted engineering services. No complete annual cost per aircraft is inferred.

Weapon system sustainment: critical cost growth, May 2026 GAO

Contracts & purchasing · 1

Ceilings, options and purchase agreements are not spending and are never added together. Obligations are under Contracts.

Contracts and purchasing
Buyer → seller	Status	Value	Qty	Source
U.S. Army → Raytheon / RTXCSP v3 payload procurement supporting Gray Eagle; not an airframe order or finalized recurring sensor price.	Undefinitized sensor contract	$118M	—	Gray Eagle CSP v3 sensor procurement, March 2024 U.S. Army · figure Mar 18, 2024

International buyers · 1

International buyers
Country	Qty	Status	Source
United StatesBudget request, not evidence of deliveries or a current fleet inventory.	Not verified	U.S. procurement customer	Gray Eagle CSP v3 sensor procurement, March 2024 U.S. Army · figure Dated source snapshot

Open research: Buyer records are selected examples, not a complete global order book. Current U.S. inventory requires additional public evidence; procurement quantities are not inventory. Complete system-specific annual operating and support costs were not established.

What the government budgets and pays for this program, from budget justification books, appropriations, acquisition reports and contract announcements. Each figure states its dollar basis. What contractors were obligated is under Contracts.

Contracts$5.62B obligated since FY2008

Explore in Awards →

Contractors3

General Atomics$5.58B 99%
BAE Systems$38.0M 0.7%
Honeywell International$136K 0.0%

Awards50

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Government awards. Select a sortable column heading to sort.
								Conf.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE TECHNICAL SERVICES 24-28	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Sep 22, 2025	$7.0M	$7.0M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE TECHNICAL SERVICES (GETS) FY 24-28.	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	May 6, 2025	$13.8M	$13.8M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE TECHNICAL SERVICES (GETS) FY24-28 FOLLOW-ON CONTRACT.	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Apr 10, 2025	$7.8M	$7.8M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE TECHNICAL SERVICES (GETS) FY24-28 FOLLOW ON CONTRACT FOR GRAY EAGLE UNCREWED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Feb 26, 2025	$28.6M	$28.6M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE TECHNICAL SERVICES (GETS) FY24-28 FOLLOW ON CONTRACT FOR GRAY EAGLE UNCREWED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Jan 22, 2025	$4.4M	$4.4M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE TECHNICAL SERVICES (GETS) FY24-28 FOLLOW ON CONTRACT FOR GRAY EAGLE UNCREWED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Dec 10, 2024	$8.9M	$8.9M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE TECHNICAL SERVICES (GETS) 2 STARSHIELD SERVICES GROUND AND FLIGHT VERIFICATION (PHASE 3).	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Jul 15, 2024	$50.3M	$53.2M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE TECHNICAL SERVICES (GETS) FY 24-28 FOLLOW-ON CONTRACT FOR GRAY EAGLE UNCREWED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Jun 11, 2024	$8.7M	$8.7M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE TECHNICAL SERVICES (GETS) FY 24-28 FOLLOW-ON CONTRACT FOR GRAY EAGLE UNCREWED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	May 30, 2024	$6.0M	$6.0M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE TECHNICAL SERVICES	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	May 17, 2024	$57.5M	$57.5M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE PERFORMANCE BASED LOGISTICS 2024-2029	U.S. Army	Definitive Contract	Apr 18, 2024	$788M	$2.60B	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE TECHNICAL SERVICES (GETS) FY24-28 FOLLOW ON CONTRACT FOR GRAY EAGLE UNCREWED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Mar 28, 2024	$5.6M	$5.6M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE TECHNICAL SERVICE FY19-23 APACHE CLASS C FLIGHT TEST.	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Mar 28, 2023	$14.5M	$14.5M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	ENGINEERING SERVICES FY19 - 23 FOR GRAY EAGLE AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS JOINT TECHNOLOGY CENTER SYSTEM INTEGRATION LAB (JSIL) AND THE GRAY EAGLE MODELING, NAVIGATION, AND INTEGRATION (GEMNI) SUPPORT FY23	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Feb 28, 2023	$31.3M	$31.3M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	FY23 WARRIOR GRAY EAGLE BLOCK 0 CONTRACT LOGISTICS SUPPORT	U.S. Army	Definitive Contract	Dec 28, 2022	$97.1M	$145M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE TECH SERVICES	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Dec 27, 2022	$7.6M	$7.6M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	ENGINEERING SERVICES FY19 - 23 FOR GRAY EAGLE AIRCRAFT SYSTEM PROGRAM MANAGEMENT FY23 OMA.	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Dec 16, 2022	$8.9M	$8.9M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	FY19-23 GRAY EAGLE TECHNICAL SERVICES CONTRACT.	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	May 13, 2022	$11.3M	$11.3M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	JOINT TECHNOLOGY CENTER SYSTEM INTEGRATION LAB (JSIL)/GRAY EAGLE MODELING, NAVIGATION AND INTEGRATION (GEMNI) SUPPORT FY22.	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Feb 17, 2022	$32.9M	$32.9M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	ENGINEERING SERVICES FY19 - 23 FOR GRAY EAGLE AIRCRAFT SYSTEM PROGRAM MANAGEMENT FY22-OMA.	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Feb 17, 2022	$5.4M	$5.4M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE TECHNICAL SERVICES (GETS) FY22 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT (GFE) MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Nov 30, 2021	$6.2M	$6.2M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	MQ-1C GRAY EAGLE EXTENDED RANGE FULL RATE PRODUCTION VI	U.S. Army	Definitive Contract	Nov 18, 2021	$130M	$130M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	JOINT TECHNOLOGY CENTER SYSTEM INTEGRATION LAB (JSIL)/GRAY EAGLE MODELING, NAVIGATION AND INTEGRATION (GEMNI) SUPPORT FY21 GRAY EAGLE ENGINEERING SERVICES	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Feb 16, 2021	$44.9M	$44.9M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	PROGRAM MANAGEMENT FY21 - AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT, ARMY (APA GRAY EAGLE ENGINEERING SERVICES	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Feb 16, 2021	$6.2M	$6.2M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE FY19-23 TECHNICAL SERVICES - GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT REPAIRS/REQUIRED UPGRADES FY21 TECHNICAL SERVICES MEMORANDUM (TSM) 3.AS.1.0.	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Jan 20, 2021	$5.9M	$5.9M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	ENGINEERING SERVICES FY19 - 23 FOR GRAY EAGLE AIRCRAFT SYSTEM	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Dec 22, 2020	$114M	$114M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE ENGINEERING SERVICES	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Jul 29, 2020	$6.5M	$6.5M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE ENGINEERING SERVICES	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Jul 15, 2020	$6.6M	$6.6M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE ENGINEERING SERVICES	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	May 27, 2020	$29.9M	$29.9M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE ENGINEERING SERVICES	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Mar 25, 2020	$5.6M	$5.6M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE ENGINEERING SERVICES	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Jan 29, 2020	$6.2M	$6.2M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	ENGINEERING SERVICES FY19- FY23 FOR GRAY EAGLE AIRCRAFT SYSTEM	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Oct 30, 2019	$7.4M	$7.4M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE ENGINEERING SERVICES	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Oct 22, 2019	$8.6M	$8.6M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	REQUIREMENT IS FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF FULL RATE PRODUCTION 5.	U.S. Army	Definitive Contract	Jul 15, 2019	$398M	$398M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE ENGINEERING SERVICES	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Jul 3, 2019	$54.1M	$54.1M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	BASIC CONTRACT W58RGZ-19-C-0030 IS TO PROVIDE CONTRACT LOGISTICAL SERVICES (CLS) FOR THE WARRIOR A AND BLOCK 0 SYSTEMS REQUIREMENT WITHIN THE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.	U.S. Army	Definitive Contract	Jun 28, 2019	$257M	$473M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE ENGINEERING SERVICES	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Jun 5, 2019	$7.5M	$7.5M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE ENGINEERING SERVICES	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	May 22, 2019	$62.4M	$62.4M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE ENGINEERING SERVICES	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	May 17, 2019	$12.5M	$12.5M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	GRAY EAGLE ENGINEERING SERVICES	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	May 17, 2019	$5.0M	$5.0M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR GRAY EAGLE	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	May 6, 2019	$7.9M	$7.9M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	REQUIREMENT IS FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF PERFORMANCE BASED LOGISTICS SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE MQ-1C GRAY EAGLE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.	U.S. Army	Definitive Contract	Apr 19, 2019	$1.90B	$3.76B	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	ENGINEERING SERVICES FY19-23 FOR GRAY EAGLE AIRCRAFT SYSTEM	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Apr 19, 2019	$15.2M	$15.2M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	ENGINEERING SERVICES FY19-23 FOR THE GRAY EAGLE AIRCRAFT SYSTEM	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Mar 8, 2019	$36.7M	$36.7M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	ENGINEERING SERVICES FY19 - 23 FOR GRAY EAGLE AIRCRAFT SYSTEM	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Mar 8, 2019	$5.5M	$5.5M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.	TASK ORDER 0002 AWARD UNDER INDEFINITE DELIVERY INDEFINITE CONTRACT W56KGY-16-D-0013 FOR TACTICAL SIGNAL INTELLIGENCE PAYLOAD INTERIM CONTRACTOR LOGISTICS SUPPORT. THIS PARTICULAR EFFORT FUNDS SUSTAINMENT AND OPERATIONS.	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Jan 25, 2019	$38.0M	$50.8M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	ENGINEERING SERVICES FY19 - 23 FOR GRAY EAGLE AIRCRAFT SYSTEM	U.S. Army	Delivery Order	Sep 28, 2018	$9.1M	$9.1M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	3 LOTS OF MQ-1C GRAY EAGLE EXTENDED RANGE AIRCRAFT UNIQUE INITIAL SPARES AND 3 LOTS OF GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT (GSE)	U.S. Army	Definitive Contract	Sep 13, 2018	$52.1M	$52.1M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	BASIC CONTRACT W58RGZ-17-C-0035 IS TO PROVIDE CONTRACT LOGISTICAL SERVICES (CLS) FOR THE WARRIOR A AND BLOCK 0 SYSTEMS REQUIREMENT WITHIN THE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM AND PROVIDE SUSTAINMENT SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE SUPPORT OF SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT AT TWO SITES IN CONTIGUOUS UNITED STATES AND SUPPORT OF MULTIPLE OUTSIDE CONTIGUOUS UNITED STATES SITES INCLUDE SUSTAINING SUPPORT FOR DEPOT OPERATIONS, SUPPORT EQUIPMENT TO ASSIST ON SITE FIELD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES AND ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER MAINTENANCE TO THE WARRIOR CONTRACT FOR THE SHADOW TACTICAL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.	U.S. Army	Definitive Contract	Dec 15, 2016	$195M	$226M	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems	IGF::CT::IGF FY17 GRAY EAGLE PERFORMANCE BASED LOGISTICS (PBL) EFFORT.	U.S. Army	Definitive Contract	Oct 21, 2016	$937M	$1.13B	MQ-1C Gray Eagle	Reported

Obligations are signed USAspending prime-contract actions coded to this program, FY2008 to date, credited to the company that received each action. Obligations are money committed, not company revenue.

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