General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is introducing a new unmanned aircraft system called Mojave, named after one of the harshest and most austere areas in the world, where deadly rattlesnakes and horned lizards adapt to survive the extreme forces of nature.
The Mojave is based on the avionics and flight control systems of the MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1C Gray Eagle-ER but focuses on short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities and increased firepower. It features extended wings with high-lift devices and a 450 hp turboprop engine.
The Mojave offers options for forward operations without the need for runways or typical airport infrastructure. It can land and take off from unimproved surfaces while retaining significant endurance and persistence advantages over manned aircraft. These innovations make Mojave the perfect UAS to perform surveillance, attack and armed reconnaissance missions.
A prototype aircraft flew for the first time this summer and continues to demonstrate exceptional short-field performance and other unique qualities.
«We are proud to bring these extraordinary capabilities to our Predator UAS line,» said GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue. «We are providing the ground force with a long-endurance armed surveillance UAS that can quickly reload weapons in austere locations, located close to the conflict zone. This revolutionary design, based on 7 million flight hours of UAS experience, increases expeditionary employment options, making Mojave a true game-changer.»
GA-ASI’s track record in UAS technology is unparalleled and is continually pushing technologies to adapt to emerging threats. The Predator series UAS have evolved from supporting the U.S. war effort following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 to become not only a critical provider of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), but also providing kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities to neutralize threats and achieve overrun.
Project Mojave brings together the best of proven technologies for employment, sustainment and production and the capability to achieve industry-leading reliability, range and endurance. The STOL capability increases the number of employment options available for the Mojave, potentially including carrier-based options, unlocking naval missions or sea-based support for special operations forces.
The payload capacity is 1,633 kg and the Mojave can carry up to 16 Hellfire missiles or equivalent. The Mojave can be equipped with a suite of sensors including electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR), synthetic aperture radar/ground moving target indicator (SAR/GMTI) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) to support land or maritime missions.
