On December 9, 2021, the American company General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI, a subsidiary of General Atomics Corporation) introduced a new long-duration reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle Mojave, which is a further development of the well-known vehicles of this company MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1C Gray Eagle-ER.
New reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle of long flight duration General Atomics Mojave (c) General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
The developer said that Mojave is based on avionics and flight control systems of the MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1C Gray Eagle-ER UAVs, but has improved takeoff and landing characteristics due to the installation of a new wing with advanced mechanization and reinforced landing gear, which makes it possible to fly from unequipped sites, including at advanced basing. It is stated that during the tests of the UAV (although it is unclear with what load) it took off and landed from a platform less than 500 feet (150 m) long and allegedly with a minimum take-off weight it is possible to achieve a take-off and landing distance of 300-400 feet (90-120 m). The minimum landing speed is only 45 knots (84 km/h). The device, as stated, is also capable of flying from an aircraft carrier without using a catapult and aerial finishers.
Mojave is equipped with a Rolls-Royce M250 turboprop engine with a capacity of 450 hp. The duration of the flight with a full fuel reserve (and, apparently, with a minimum payload) is "more than 25 hours".
The Mojave payload has also been increased to 3,600 pounds (1,633 kg), including the Mojave can carry up to 16 Hellfire guided missiles "or similar" (the MQ-9 Reaper UAV carries up to eight Hellfire missiles), having seven suspension units. However, in the variant with a load of 12 Hellfire missiles and a maximum Mojave fuel reserve, the take-off and landing distance of the device is more than 1600 feet (about 500 m), and the maximum flight duration is no more than 10 hours.
Flight tests of the first Mojave prototype were started without publicity in the summer of 2021 and the device was fixed by spotters several times. The company has expressed great interest in Mojave from both the US armed forces and potential foreign customers.
New reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle of long flight duration General Atomics Mojave (c) General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
Graphs of takeoff and landing characteristics and flight duration of the General Atomics Mojave UAV depending on the payload (c) General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
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