General Atomics Mojave

Development on the Mojave began around 2018 or 2019.{{cite news |last1=Trevithick |first1=Joseph |title=General Atomics' Rough Field-Capable Mojave Drone Breaks Cover |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43438/general-atomics-rough-field-capable-mojave-drone-breaks-cover |access-date=12 December 2021 |work=The Drive |agency=The Drive |publisher=Recurrent |date=9 December 2021}} 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.[https://www.defensenews.com/land/2021/12/09/general-atomics-unveils-new-unmanned-aircraft-named-for-harsh-american-desert/ General Atomics unveils new unmanned aircraft named for harsh American desert]. Defense News. 9 December 2021.[https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2021/12/general-atomics-unveils-new-drone-carries-16-hellfire-missiles/187408/ General Atomics Unveils New Drone That Carries 16 Hellfire Missiles]. Defense One. 9 December 2021.{{cite web |title=MOJAVE Dedicated ISR and Weapons Solution for Today's Warfighter |url=https://www.ga-asi.com/images/products/aircraft_systems/pdf/Mojave_Data_Sheet_120721.pdf |website=ga-asi.com |publisher=General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. |access-date=12 December 2021}}[https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2021-12-13/general-atomics-unveils-latest-predator-family-member General Atomics Unveils Latest Predator Family Member]. Aviation International News. 13 December 2021.

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. It can take off from austere runways as little as 152 m (500 ft) in length.[https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/december/7949-general-atomics-unveils-mojave-stol-combat-uav-for-dirty-strips-and-naval-operations.html General Atomics unveils Mojave STOL combat UAV for dirty strips and naval operations]. Air Recognition. 9 December 2021. In a surveillance mode it can take off from a {{cvt|1000|ft|abbr=on|order=flip}} runway and stay aloft for over 20 hours, and it can perform armed ISR taking off from a 488 m (1,600 ft) runway carrying 12 Hellfire missiles with nine hours maximum endurance. The longest the Mojave can fly is for 27 hours when taking off from a long runway with a full fuel load and no other payload, or it carry a full {{cvt|3600|lb|abbr=on|order=flip}} payload totaling 16 Hellfire missiles.[https://newatlas.com/military/general-atomic-mojave-drone-packspunch-16-hellfire-missiles/ General Atomics' new Mojave drone packs a punch of 16 Hellfire missiles]. New Atlas. 11 December 2021. In addition to guided munitions, M134D-H miniguns can be mounted on the wings to perform strafing runs.{{Cite web |last=Insinna |first=Valerie |last2=Roque |first2=Ashley |date=2023-04-19 |title=Move over FARA: General Atomics pitching new Gray Eagle version for armed scout mission |url= https://breakingdefense.com/2024/04/general-atomics-pitching-new-gray-eagle-version-for-armed-scout-mission/?amp=1 |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Trevithick |first=Joseph |date=2024-04-19 |title= Check Out The Gun Pods On The Rugged Mojave Unmanned Aircraft (Updated) |url= https://www.twz.com/43936/check-out-the-gun-pods-on-the-rugged-mojave-unmanned-aircraft |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=The War Zone |language=en-US}} The STOL capabilities of the Mojave have further lead to the proposition of it being used as a carrier aircraft for naval operations.{{cite web|url= https://www.ga-asi.com/remotely-piloted-aircraft/mojave|title= General Atomics Mojave|author= |date=2021-12-09|website= General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, inc|publisher= General Atomics|access-date= December 12, 2021}}

The Mojave is planned to be controlled using General Atomics' 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, take-off, and landing operations on-site by a pilot.{{cite web |title=GA-ASI's New SC2 Software Offers Massive Savings for Gray Eagle ER Teams |url=https://www.ga.com/ga-asi-new-sc2-software-offers-massive-savings-for-gray-eagle-er-teams |website=General Atomics |access-date=12 December 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Trevithick |first1=Joseph |title=General Atomics' Rough Field-Capable Mojave Drone Breaks Cover |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43438/general-atomics-rough-field-capable-mojave-drone-breaks-cover |access-date=12 December 2021 |work=The Drive |agency=The Drive |publisher=Recurrent |date=9 December 2021}}

{{Main articles|MQ-9B}}

Mojave is being used to demonstrate uncrewed STOL capabilities for the upcoming MQ-9B STOL, a wing-kit that allows the MQ-9B, which has a greater payload and endurance than the Mojave, to operate from austere runways and aircraft carriers.{{Cite web |last=Naval News |date=8 July 2023 |title=MQ-9B Seaguardian at Paris Air Show 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSKLvXPbAw&t=2s |access-date=12 January 2024 |website=Youtube}}{{Cite web |date=2022-06-27 |title=Could Maritime Protector RPAS operate from Royal Navy aircraft carriers? {{!}} Navy Lookout |url=https://www.navylookout.com/could-maritime-protector-rpas-operate-from-royal-navy-aircraft-carriers/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=www.navylookout.com |language=en-GB}}

In May 2023, the United Kingdom announced it would be acquiring a Mojave system for seven months of trials aboard its {{sclass|Queen Elizabeth|aircraft carrier}}s.{{cite news |title=British aircraft carrier to trial 'Project Mojave' drones |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-aircraft-carrier-to-trial-variant-of-reaper-drones/ |access-date=21 May 2023 |work=UK Defence Journal |date=19 May 2023}} In November 2023, during the WESTLANT 23 deployment to the United States, a single Mojave and its associated control station were embarked aboard {{HMS|Prince of Wales|R09|6}}. The demonstration occurred on the 15th November and was witnessed by representatives from the US, Spain, Italy, Australia, and Japan. The demonstration saw the aircraft execute a take-off from an improvised angle rather than the standard centreline of the carrier and did not utilize the carrier's ski-jump, it then completed a number of circuits and approaches before landing back on the deck un-arrested. Beyond being the first time Mojave has performed a trial from a carrier, this also marked the first time an uncrewed system of this weight class had operated from an aircraft carrier outside the United States.{{cite news |date=17 November 2023 |title=Mojave uncrewed air system successfully flown from HMS Prince of Wales |url=https://www.navylookout.com/mojave-uncrewed-air-system-successfully-flown-from-hms-prince-of-wales/ |access-date=17 November 2023 |work=Navy Lookout}}{{Cite web |title=GA-ASI Redefines Maritime Operations with Mojave |url=https://www.ga-asi.com/mojave-uas-carrier-takeoff-and-landing-demo |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hoyle |first=Craig |date=2023-11-17 |title=Unmanned Mojave makes trials debut aboard UK's HMS Prince of Wales |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/unmanned-mojave-makes-trials-debut-aboard-uks-hms-prince-of-wales/155910.article |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Flight Global |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Naval News |date=2023-11-17 |title=UK Royal Navy Tests Mojave Drone Aboard Aircraft Carrier |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/11/uk-royal-navy-tests-mojave-drone-aboard-aircraft-carrier/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}

On 13 April 2024, General Atomics conducted live fire tests with DAP-6 minigun pods, destroying several ground targets, including a pickup truck, and expending over 10,000 rounds of ammunition. GA-ASI partnered with Dillon Aero to fit DAP-6 minigun pods to the Mojave. This was the first time guns were used on a General Atomics UAS.

On 12 November 2024, Gray Eagle STOL UAV, which is the name of the mass-produced version of the Mojave, performed a take-off test on ROKS Dokdo, an amphibious assault ship of the Republic of Korea Navy.{{Cite web |last=Newdick |first=Thomas |date=2024-11-13 |title=Gray Eagle STOL Drone Flies From South Korean Amphibious Assault Ship |url=https://www.twz.com/air/gray-eagle-stol-drone-flies-from-south-korean-amphibious-assault-ship |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=The War Zone |language=en-US}} The UAV took off from Dokdo, flew twice close to her port side to perform a "simulated landing procedure", but did not land on the ship.{{Cite web |last=Cha |first=Eunhyuk |date=2024-11-13 |title=ROK Navy tests Mojave drone aboard ROKS Dokdo |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/11/rok-navy-tests-mojave-drone-aboard-roks-dokdo/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}

{{Aircraft specs

|ref= General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. Data Sheet{{cite web |title=MOJAVE Dedicated ISR and Weapons Solution for Today's Warfighter |url=https://www.ga-asi.com/images/products/aircraft_systems/pdf/Mojave_Data_Sheet_120721.pdf |website=ga-asi.com |publisher=General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. |access-date=12 December 2021}}

|prime units?=imp

|crew=0 onboard, 2 at the ground station

|length m=9

|span m=16

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|max takeoff weight lb=7,000

|fuel capacity= 3,550 lbs

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name= Rolls-Royce M250

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• 7 hardpoints
• Up to {{convert|650|lb|kg|abbr=on}} on each of the 4 inboard hardpoints
• Up to {{convert|350|lb|kg|abbr=on}} on each of the 2 outboard hardpoints
• Up to {{convert|500|lb|kg|abbr=on}} on the center hardpoint
• Provisions to carry combinations of:
• M134D-H Minigun (DAP-6 gun pods){{cite web |title=GA-ASI Mojave Lights Up the Yuma Desert in Live-Fire Demonstration |url=https://www.ga-asi.com/ga-asi-mojave-lights-up-the-yuma-desert-in-live-fire-demonstration |website=ga-asi.com |publisher=General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. |access-date=23 April 2024 |date=April 23, 2024}}
• Up to 16 AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles
• Likely up to 16 AGM-179 JAGM air-to-surface missiles{{cite web |title=GA-ASI Mojave STOL UAS Completes First Dirt Operation |url=https://www.ga-asi.com/ga-asi-mojave-stol-uas-completes-first-dirt-operation |access-date=22 April 2024 |website=ga-asi.com |publisher=General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. |date=August 3, 2023}}

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{{Portal|Aviation}}

{{aircontent

|related=

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

|similar aircraft=

• Baykar Bayraktar TB3

|lists=

• List of unmanned aerial vehicles
• List of STOL aircraft

}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.ga-asi.com/remotely-piloted-aircraft/mojave General Atomics Mojave website]

{{General Atomics aircraft}}

Category:General Atomics aircraft

Category:Unmanned aerial vehicles of the United States