General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has unveiled a new combat drone capable of carrying 16 Hellfire missiles, pushing long-endurance, armed overwatch to forward operating bases in austere environments, the company said.
The Mojave unmanned aircraft system (UAS) is based upon the avionics and flight control systems of GA-ASI’s MQ-9 Reaper and the MQ-1C Grey Eagle-ER, the company said in its announcement Thursday. In addition to the increased payload capacity and firepower, Mojave is geared for short-takeoff and landing (STOL).
It can take off on a runway less than 600 feet in length, Defense One reported.
“Mojave provides options for forward-basing operations without the need for typical airport runways or infrastructure,” GA-ASI said in a statement. “It can land and takeoff from unimproved surfaces while also retaining significant advantages in endurance and persistence over manned aircraft.”
The drone is designed for special forces; however, it remains unclear who would buy it, according to reports. It is not a capability that currently fits into the Armed Overwatch requirements of the U.S. Special Operations Command, Breaking Defense reported.
According to GA-ASI, the Mojave features:
- Payload capacity of 3,600 lbs
- Ability to carry up to 16 Hellfire or equivalent missiles
- Ability to be equipped with a sensor suite including Electro-optical/Infrared (EO/IR), Synthetic Aperture Radar/Ground Moving Target Indicator (SAR/GMTI) and Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) to support land or maritime missions
- Enlarged wings with high-lift devices
- A 450 hp turboprop engine
“We are providing the ground force with a long-endurance, armed overwatch UAS that can quickly reload weapons at austere sites, located close to the conflict zone,” GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue said in a statement. “This revolutionary design, based on seven million flight hours of UAS experience, increases expeditionary employment options—making Mojave a real game changer.”
