General Atomics Mojave

Development on the Mojave began around 2018 or 2019.[2] The initial objective was to create a drone that could perform vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), but this was determined to be impractical as significant compromises in payload or endurance would need to be taken. Instead, development shifted to a STOL design that would preserve performance while needing less runway space. It features a configuration similar to that of the MQ-9 Reaper, with a low-mounted wing, bulbous nose and Y-tail. The engine, a Rolls-Royce M250 turboprop, is mounted in a pusher configuration. Two main things that set this aircraft apart from the rest of the Predator family are its wings and landing gear. The wings are enlarged, featuring "high-lift devices" including leading edge slats, double-slotted flaps and drooping ailerons. The landing gear is also more reinforced when compared to other UAVs, featuring wide bushwheel-style tires, used to assist on landing in rough terrain, and thick shock absorbers as well as more pronounced torque links. A key design feature of the Mojave is its transportability; it can be broken down and transported via a C-130 Hercules or similarly-sized aircraft. It can then be ready for a mission in around 1.5 hours with a four-person team.[3][4][5][6]

The Mojave completed its first test flight in summer of 2021, and was formally unveiled by GA on December 9, 2021. It is being developed to fulfill the role of an unmanned combat aerial vehicle that can operate from more rugged terrain with a combat loadout, while also offering the option to be outfitted with various electronic systems to assist ground troops. Some of these roles include signal intelligence (SIGINT) and moving target indication, as well as use of synthetic-aperture radar and electro-optical sensors.[1] It is able to take off from austere runways as little as 152 m (500 ft) in length.[7] In a surveillance mode it can take off from a 300 m (1,000 ft) runway and stay aloft for over 20 hours, and it can perform armed ISR from a 488 m (1,600 ft) runway carrying 12 Hellfire missiles for nine hours. At maximum, the Mojave can fly for 27 hours when taking off on a long runway with no payload and a full fuel load, or carry a 1,600 kg (3,600 lb) payload totaling 16 Hellfire missiles.[6][8] The STOL capabilities of the Mojave have further lead to the proposition of it being used as a carrier aircraft for naval operations.[1]

The Mojave is planned to be controlled using General Atomic's Scalable Command and Control (SC2) System, which is currently being developed for use on the MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER), and likely will be able to operate from already-established General Atomics ground stations, such as the Certifiable Ground Control Station (CGCS) or Block 30 Ground Control Station. Use of the SC2 System will allow the operator to perform pre-flight, taxiing, takeoff, and landing operations on-site by a pilot.[9][2]

In May 2023, the UK announced it would be acquiring a Mojave system for seven months of trials aboard its Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.[10]

Data from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. Data Sheet[5]

General characteristics

• Crew: 0 onboard, 2 in ground-station
• Length: 29 ft 6 in (9 m)
• Wingspan: 52 ft 6 in (16 m)
• Max takeoff weight: 7,000 lb (3,175 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 3,550 lbs
• Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce M250 turboprop, 450 shp (340 kW)

Performance

• Ferry range: 2,900 mi (4,600 km, 2,500 nmi)
• Endurance: 25+ hours

Armament

• 7 hardpoints
  • Up to 650 lb (290 kg) on the four inboard weapons stations
  • Up to 350 lb (160 kg) on the two outboard stations
  • Up to 500 lb (230 kg) on the center station
• Up to 16 AGM-114 Hellfire air to ground missiles can be carried

Related development

• General Atomics MQ-1 Predator
• General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagle
• General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper
• General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger (formerly Predator C)

Related lists

• List of unmanned aerial vehicles
• List of STOL aircraft

• General Atomics Mojave website