ORAC
10th Dec 2021, 07:37
Payload of 16 Hellfire missiles, operates off dirt strips and a 40-45 knot approach speed. I wonder what the take-off distance is with a full load - and how big the shipping container is….
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2021/12/09/general-atomics-unveils-new-unmanned-aircraft-named-for-harsh-american-desert/
General Atomics unveils new unmanned aircraft named for harsh American desert
WASHINGTON — Reaper- and Gray Eagle-maker General Atomics (https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/01/22/general-atomics-demos-gray-eagles-role-in-multidomain-ops/) Aeronautical Systems unveiled on Dec. 9 its newest unmanned aircraft system — Mojave — capable of handling much greater payloads and taking off and landing using short, undeveloped surfaces.
Mojave essentially takes a Gray Eagle fuselage and adds enlarged wings with high-lift devices and a Rolls Royce 450-horsepower turboprop engine. The UAS is based on the avionics and flight control systems of the MQ-9 Reaper (https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/05/26/get-ready-for-another-fight-over-the-future-of-the-mq-9-reaper/) and the MQ-1C Gray Eagle-Extended Range, General Atomics representatives told reporters in a Dec. 8 briefing…..
Mojave “takes advantage of the high-lift wing with leading edge slats and double-slotted flaps and extra horsepower to do the job and we think this is a very efficient way to get you persistence and get it somewhat runway independent, meaning it’s got flotation tires on it and an extra strong landing gear,” Alexander said.….
Mojave’s payload capacity is 3,600 lbs and it can carry up to 16 Hellfire missiles, for example. Other payload options are electro-optical/infrared, synthetic aperture radar/ground moving target indicator and signal intelligence.…
Fuel capacity for the aircraft is 3,550 lbs. A four-person team can set up Mojave in about 90 minutes from roll out. It can fly eight hours in an ISR mission and three hours in an attack or armed reconnaissance mission with 12 Hellfire missiles, according to a GA fact sheet……
A prototype of Mojave flew over the summer and continues to fly through its mapped-out paces. Gradually, General Atomics has upped the ante from Mojave’s first flight, and, according to Alexander, “we’re deploying the leading edge slats, the flaps, checking out how slow we can approach and we’re touching down at 40-45 knots now….
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x576/image_dac3cb3b7e4173ac8a471955f6c1bf37f511a56b.jpeg
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2021/12/09/general-atomics-unveils-new-unmanned-aircraft-named-for-harsh-american-desert/
General Atomics unveils new unmanned aircraft named for harsh American desert
WASHINGTON — Reaper- and Gray Eagle-maker General Atomics (https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/01/22/general-atomics-demos-gray-eagles-role-in-multidomain-ops/) Aeronautical Systems unveiled on Dec. 9 its newest unmanned aircraft system — Mojave — capable of handling much greater payloads and taking off and landing using short, undeveloped surfaces.
Mojave essentially takes a Gray Eagle fuselage and adds enlarged wings with high-lift devices and a Rolls Royce 450-horsepower turboprop engine. The UAS is based on the avionics and flight control systems of the MQ-9 Reaper (https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/05/26/get-ready-for-another-fight-over-the-future-of-the-mq-9-reaper/) and the MQ-1C Gray Eagle-Extended Range, General Atomics representatives told reporters in a Dec. 8 briefing…..
Mojave “takes advantage of the high-lift wing with leading edge slats and double-slotted flaps and extra horsepower to do the job and we think this is a very efficient way to get you persistence and get it somewhat runway independent, meaning it’s got flotation tires on it and an extra strong landing gear,” Alexander said.….
Mojave’s payload capacity is 3,600 lbs and it can carry up to 16 Hellfire missiles, for example. Other payload options are electro-optical/infrared, synthetic aperture radar/ground moving target indicator and signal intelligence.…
Fuel capacity for the aircraft is 3,550 lbs. A four-person team can set up Mojave in about 90 minutes from roll out. It can fly eight hours in an ISR mission and three hours in an attack or armed reconnaissance mission with 12 Hellfire missiles, according to a GA fact sheet……
A prototype of Mojave flew over the summer and continues to fly through its mapped-out paces. Gradually, General Atomics has upped the ante from Mojave’s first flight, and, according to Alexander, “we’re deploying the leading edge slats, the flaps, checking out how slow we can approach and we’re touching down at 40-45 knots now….
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x576/image_dac3cb3b7e4173ac8a471955f6c1bf37f511a56b.jpeg