PICTURES: General Atomics reveals Predator C 'Avenger' UAV

Flight Global ^ | April 21, 2009 | Stephen Trimble

[myknowledge]

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has released the first public images and the new name of its Predator C "Avenger" unmanned air vehicle.

The pictures reveal a stealthy design powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545B; the same engine that powers the Cessna Citation XLS business jet. The UAV's 20m (66ft) wingspan is swept at 17°, allowing a maximum speed of over 400kt (740km/h), General Atomics says. Operating altitude can exceed 60,000ft, the company adds.

Further details about specifications and performance are not being released. But company officials acknowledge that a second aircraft is already in production with a 0.61m fuselage extension, raising overall length to just over 13.1m.

The first Avenger has completed at least three test flights, with the first flight recorded on 4 April at the Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility in Palmdale, California.

The UAV is designed to operate in the same hunter-killer role as General Atomics' Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper, but with a significantly faster response time. The manufacturer confirms it is also developing a new full motion video sensor for the aircraft.

The Avenger could also carry General Atomics' Lynx synthetic aperture radar and a forward-looking infrared sensor adapted from the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

[myknowledge]

General Atomics Avenger UAV. Looks cool, but I still harbor a preference for manned fighters, thank you.

What do you think?

[SIDENET]

What do you think?

I think I want one.

[PureSolace]

General Atomics? Wasn’t that a fictitious company in the Fallout series? Didn’t they make the Mr. Handy and all the pre-nuclear war robotics and military hardware?

[MIchaelTArchangel]

I think GA has again built an aircraft that the military did not know it needed and will make another fortune selling them to the Air Force.

[DoughtyOne]

It’s becoming more interesting what technical devices are incorporated into these systems. While the unit is unmanned and thus less problematic when shot down as it relates to loss of life, the technology lost might be quite significant.

[ryan71]

Equip it with an AESA radar and air to air missiles, and build swarms of them and you have a nasty air superiority challenger.

[myknowledge]

General Atomics. It's the same company that manufactures the Predator and Reaper UAVs.

[freedumb2003]

Manned fighters against manned targets, especially others in jets. UAVs for the cowards that hide behind children and womens’ skirts.

[freedumb2003]

It's the same company that manufactures the Predator and Reaper UAVs.

And IRON MAN!

Everyone knows General Atomics is a front for Stark Industries.

[myknowledge]

Why do you think so? UAVs can be just as expensive as manned fighters. Why not use killer bees for a small fraction of the price each? Cessna O-1 Bird Dog.

[greatdefender]

It’s the same company that manufactures the Predator and Reaper UAVs.

And IRON MAN!

Would it been interesting if the troops had that armor?

[freedumb2003]

>>Why do you think so? UAVs can be just as expensive as manned fighters.<<

Because manned fighters can hurt the MAN/MEN in the cockpit. We need them dudes to do stuff that requires a human in the seat at the moment.

Passive hunts for cowards can be regulated to robots.

A single pilot who gets hit by flak or a lucky SAM is too high a price to pay for simple Search and Destroy Weinies.

[GeronL]

That is awesome.... no more props!

[Kickass Conservative]

Just another Advanced Weapons System the Obama Administration can cancel to fund their Marxist Utopia.

[World'sGoneInsane]

While the unit is unmanned and thus less problematic when shot down as it relates to loss of life, the technology lost might be quite significant.

The technology lost to the enemy? It's manned, they could destroy it. Or, there would be a self-destruct button upon impact?

[Alex Murphy]

[org.whodat]

Great, now they need to down size a few and put Fifty Calibers on them. Sure as hell could make those hill climbing Afghans live hard trying to out run them, dying tired is a bitch..

[org.whodat]

Not much left after a 60,000 foot drop and a self detonator. The other thing you can have when there is not life aboard.

[SunkenCiv]

Swarms of UAVs instead of F22s are a great idea — until it’s dogfight time.

[RoadKingSE]

Looks cool, but I still harbor a preference for manned fighters, thank you.

What do you think?

Fighter? I don't think it's a fighter so to speak.