POWAY, Calif. – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems in Poway, Calif., has unveiled its latest fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the Mojave, which can carry as many as 16 precision air-to-ground 100-pound AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and operate from short, rugged airstrips. New Atlas reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
6 Jan. 2022 -- Based on the previous MQ-9 Reaper and the MQ-1C Gray Eagle, the Mojave aims primarily at special forces units that often have to operate from ships at sea or from forward bases with short grass or gravel runways.
Because of this, the Mojave has a strong undercarriage, a 450-brake horsepower Rolls Royce M250 engine, and improved wing aerodynamics that enable it to make short takeoffs from unimproved runways. It can carry 3,600 pounds of weapons.
It can carry as many as 16 Hellfire missiles or other weapons like the Dillon Aero M134D-H minigun. With a load of 12 Hellfires and a 1,600-foot runway, the drone could provide special forces with fire support for as long as nine hours.
Related: Raytheon wins job to build lightweight missiles for attack UAVs and special-ops aircraft
Related: Army asks General Atomics to build four more Gray Eagle long-endurance attack drones
Related: U.S. Military to sell Hellfire missiles to Iraq, Jordan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Qatar
John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
