Friday November 8, 2024
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An MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operated by the U.S. Army flies over a desert landscape. Developed by General Atomics, this multi-role drone is equipped for surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision strikes, and plays a critical role in counter-terrorism operations worldwide. COURTESY of U.S. Army
Mogadishu (HOL) — The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed Friday that an American-operated MQ-1C Gray Eagle drone crashed on Tuesday in southern Somalia, clarifying initial reports from local media that had misidentified the aircraft as Turkish.
The unmanned drone went down near Farsooley, an Al-Shabaab-controlled village roughly 130 kilometres southwest of Mogadishu. Witnesses reported that Al-Shabaab fighters quickly secured the wreckage, camouflaging it with tree branches to hide it from aerial surveillance. The drone was reportedly armed with missiles when it crashed.
AFRICOM’s statement explained that the crash occurred around 12:40 p.m. local time on November 5. AFRICOM believes the downing was not due to hostile fire, though an investigation remains underway to determine the cause. AFRICOM has pledged to release more details as they become available.
The unit cost of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle is approximately $21 million.
The statement marks a shift from initial reports, including from Hiiraan Online, which had identified the drone as a Turkish Bayraktar TB2—a type commonly used in regional conflicts for surveillance and precision strikes. Turkey has been active in supporting Somali-led operations against Al-Shabaab, providing military training and equipment.
The militant group, affiliated with al-Qaeda, dominates vast rural areas in southern Somalia and has long been a focus of both Somali and international counter-terrorism efforts.
The MQ-1C Gray Eagle, developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system (UAS) designed for the U.S. Army. It is used as an advanced variant of the Predator drone. It entered service in 2009 and has since undergone several upgrades, including enhanced sensor packages and increased payload capacity.
It serves multiple roles, including reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, and strike missions. Equipped with advanced sensors and capable of carrying up to four AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, the Gray Eagle provides real-time intelligence and precision strike capabilities. It has an endurance of up to 25 hours and can operate at altitudes up to 29,000 feet.
Further updates are anticipated as the U.S. military releases additional findings on the drone’s technical failure.