General Atomics has shown what a potentially revolutionary UAV carrier of air — to-air missiles can look like. Such devices will be launched from the carrier aircraft.
LongShot is an original and at the same time extremely important program of DARPA (Office of Advanced Research Projects of the US Department of Defense). It involves the development of a drone that can carry air — to-air missiles and will be launched from a manned aircraft.
In other words, we are talking about an intermediate missile carrier that can protect American pilots, allowing them to operate at a greater distance from the enemy.
It is not known exactly what the drone will look like. The device shown by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, or GA-ASI — is just a concept.
The LongShot concept from General Atomics
Image source: General Atomics
In addition to General Atomics, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are working on the program. Previously, all these companies received funding from DARPA.
An earlier concept
Image source: DARPA
In the new image, you can see an aircraft with a V-shaped tail. On the side in the rear there is a weapons compartment: whether there is the same on the other side of the UAV is unclear. It is also unclear how they plan to aim missiles at the enemy.
