General Atomics unveils
Mojave STOL UAV for dirt runways or aircraft carriers[/u]
9 December 2021
General Atomics unveiled a new medium-altitude, long-endurance [MALE] UAV on 9 December that can take off and land in as little as 152m (500ft), including from dirt runways or aircraft carriers.
The goal is that the drone, in its lightest configuration, would be able to get airborne and touch down in as little as 300 to 400 feet, a capability that would be enabled, in part, by an extremely low stall speed. Flight testing so far has shown that this unmanned aircraft can safely land at speeds as low as 45 knots.
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General Atomics says it first flew a prototype of the short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft “this summer”. A test campaign for the UAV is ongoing.
take off and land in as little as 152m (500ft), including from dirt runways or aircraft carriers.
The goal is that the drone, in its lightest configuration, would be able to get airborne and touch down in as little as 300 to 400 feet, a capability that would be enabled, in part, by an extremely low stall speed. Flight testing so far has shown that this unmanned aircraft can safely land at speeds as low as 45 knots.
The UAV uses enlarged wings for STOL performance. It can fly for more than 25h and is powered by a 450hp (336kW) turboprop engine... significant differences toward the rear of the fuselage to accommodate a Rolls-Royce M250 turboshaft engine. This gives Mojave significantly increased power over the MQ-1C and its 165-horsepower Thielert Centurion 1.7 diesel engine.
The Mojave has a payload capacity of 1,630kg (3,600lb) and hardpoints for up to 16 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.
The STOL aircraft borrows avionics and flight control systems from the USAF's MQ-9 Reaper and US Army’s MQ-1C Gray Eagle-Extend Range. It is built around the fuselage of the latter model.
Compared to the Gray Eagle, the drone's entire tricycle landing gear has been redesigned for rough field performance, including the addition of wider flotation tires designed to help it traverse sandy and otherwise loose terrain.
The design of the Mojave's wing is new, being optimized for maximum lift with the help of leading-edge slats and double-slotted flaps. It has a wider chord and generally broader dimensions. The new drone's wingspan is 52 feet, compared to the 56-foot span on the standard MQ-1C and the 58-foot one on the GE-ER.
Despite borrowing from earlier UAVs developed by General Atomics, Mojave is a “purpose-built airplane, designed from the ground up for expeditionary use in rugged environments or in atypical runway conditions”, says the manufacturer, which notes that the Gray Eagle or Reaper could not gain STOL performance with a wing retrofit. “Mojave is designed with an eye toward dirt roads, hard-packed sand, dry riverbeds and other atypical runways,” it says.
General Atomics says there is not a customer requirement for the UAV, but believes US and international customers would be interested. Mojave is best suited for armed reconnaissance missions, the company says.
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The design’s short take-off capability means that the Mojave might be able to operate from the top of the US Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carriers or even smaller amphibious assault ships, which often carry US Marine Corps expeditionary units.
“Mojave would not require catapults or arresting gear for sea-based usage,” says General Atomics. “We believe an aircraft carrier making 20kt [37km/h] could launch Mojave today.”
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The company has also argued that its unmanned aircraft should be considered for US Special Operations Command’s (SOCOM’s) Armed Overwatch programme. SOCOM is looking for 75 light-attack aircraft to perform close air support and armed reconnaissance for its ground troops. The command has so far excluded UAVs from the Armed Overwatch competition, focusing instead on manned fixed-wing aircraft.
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