Matt Molnar
2009-04-18, 01:35 AM
Predator C Avenger Makes First Flights (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/AVENGER041709.xml&headline=Predator%20C%20Avenger%20Makes%20First%20 Flights&channel=defense)
http://sitelife.aviationweek.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/12/8/bc1c25b1-56c6-4a7a-98a2-81f852033db5.Large.jpg
Apr 17, 2009
By David A. Fulghum and Bill Sweetman
A new, reduced-signature, unmanned aircraft—the long-rumored, 20-hr.-endurance, pure-jet Predator C Avenger—has emerged from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ workshops after a 3½-year gestation period paced by massive growth in UAV production and the use of unmanned designs in combat.
The UAV’s undeniably stealthed-up exterior offers several clues about how the aircraft could be employed.
A weapons bay allows internal carriage of 500-lb. bombs with GBU-38 JDAM tail kit and laser guidance. Given the aircraft’s 41-ft. length (which will expand by at least 2 ft. in the second test aircraft), the weapons bay appears to be 10 ft. long. [Full Article (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/AVENGER041709.xml&headline=Predator%20C%20Avenger%20Makes%20First%20 Flights&channel=defense)]
More photos: http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/photos/p ... a1413a668b (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/photos/photopage.jsp?plckPhotoID=8638de29-b7b1-4ff1-b75e-d059b1cd52c8&plckGalleryID=b1746a72-fce6-489c-9afe-50a1413a668b)
http://sitelife.aviationweek.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/12/8/bc1c25b1-56c6-4a7a-98a2-81f852033db5.Large.jpg
Apr 17, 2009
By David A. Fulghum and Bill Sweetman
A new, reduced-signature, unmanned aircraft—the long-rumored, 20-hr.-endurance, pure-jet Predator C Avenger—has emerged from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ workshops after a 3½-year gestation period paced by massive growth in UAV production and the use of unmanned designs in combat.
The UAV’s undeniably stealthed-up exterior offers several clues about how the aircraft could be employed.
A weapons bay allows internal carriage of 500-lb. bombs with GBU-38 JDAM tail kit and laser guidance. Given the aircraft’s 41-ft. length (which will expand by at least 2 ft. in the second test aircraft), the weapons bay appears to be 10 ft. long. [Full Article (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/AVENGER041709.xml&headline=Predator%20C%20Avenger%20Makes%20First%20 Flights&channel=defense)]
More photos: http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/photos/p ... a1413a668b (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/photos/photopage.jsp?plckPhotoID=8638de29-b7b1-4ff1-b75e-d059b1cd52c8&plckGalleryID=b1746a72-fce6-489c-9afe-50a1413a668b)