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Predator C is Stealthy with a Tailhook

Posted by David A. Fulghum at 4/17/2009 11:00 AM CDT

For all you unmanned combat aerial vehicle fans, the wait is over. Here are some snazzy photos of the Avenger, i.e., General Atomics' new Predator C, which appears to take the old standard and make it stealthy and more deadly.

Aviation Week & Space Technology is publishing an exclusive set of photos, the first, and they are also available here in the Defense Showcase, along with many we couldn't fit in the print version. The magazine's April 20th edition has interesting new information on the UCAV, which we previewed for you on AviationWeek.com this week.

While company officials aren’t calling it a stealthy aircraft, they will admit to a reduced signature. The 20-hr.-endurance UAV’s undeniably stealthed-up exterior offers clues about how the aircraft could be employed.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems chief of UAVs, retired admiral Tom Cassidy, has created an empire by building on his own dime what the Pentagon needs and not what it asks for. The result is a line of relatively inexpensive, armed, high-performance combat UAVs that are used by all the services and intelligence agencies. Now it appears that Cassidy could strike yet again with a stealthy, armed, fast, all-jet UCAV that is cheaper than known Air Force or Navy UCAV designs.

The aircraft also was designed from its inception so that the wings could be folded at the point where they crank (or change shape at mid-wing) for storage in hangars or for aircraft carrier operations. The UAV also comes with a tailhook that suggests that carrier-related trials are planned. The inner section of the cranked wing is deep, providing structural strength for carrier landings and generous fuel volume while maintaining a dry, folding outer wing.

Read this week's Aviation Week & Space Technology story: Predator C Avenger Makes First Flights.

Aviation Week's Bill Sweetman, editor in chief of Defense Technology International, helped report this story.

Credit: General Atomics

Comments (57) | Permanent Link

Tags: Avenger, Predator, C, General, Atomics, stealth

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snake and nape wrote:

gee I wonder if GA will sell any of those.....

4/17/2009 11:16 AM CDT

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Bobbymike wrote:

Interesting, is this an X-47 competitor on the cheap? If not I have questions as to it usage. Low observables come in four major categories, radar, IR, electronic and visual/auditory (a human being on the ground). In Iraq and A-stan or other COIN wars there is little or no need for radar, IR or electronic detection stealth/counter-measures. The Taliban and al Qeada use the Mark I eyeball (or ears) to detect UAV's. Am I missing something?

4/17/2009 11:23 AM CDT

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sferrin wrote:

SWEET!

4/17/2009 11:24 AM CDT

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sferrin wrote:

Bobbymike: This isn't in the same class as the X-47 anymore than the Predator B is in the class of a Strike Eagle ;-)

4/17/2009 11:26 AM CDT

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snake and nape wrote:

I remain skeptical that the navy will let either one of them anywhere near a boat.

4/17/2009 11:52 AM CDT

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Marcase wrote:

Awesome pics!

Looks like this one has stereoscopic vision as well, two (flight) cameras in the nose. Improved depth perception is handy especially during carrier landings.

I don't see any other 'eyeballs' though, no IR/EO/Lasing (protruding) systems like Predator/Reaper.

4/17/2009 12:01 PM CDT

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sferrin wrote:

Snake and nape: re: the carrier. Gotta start somewhere.

4/17/2009 12:08 PM CDT

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sferrin wrote:

On second thought it doesn't look that beefy. Maybe it's just a tailhook for emergencies like those on USAF fighters?

4/17/2009 12:21 PM CDT

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David A. Fulghum wrote:

Initial customers of interest are the USAF and RAF. However, the Navy was interested in Predator B, but they didn't want more propellors on the flight deck. I would suspect they would have no trouble operating from the small deck carriers with the AV-8s, V-22s and F-35B. That would leave the big carriers with F-35C and N-UCAS. Also 3,000 lb. of payload can be a lot more effective because of precision guidance and small diameter bomb. In addition, where stealth isn't necessary, weapons and esoteric payloads such as sigint/comint can be carried externally. Against insurgents and non-state groups, the aircraft's 60,000 ft. operating altitude can get them up over the Hindu Kush, for example, looking into the valleys while maintaining aural stealth and soaking up communications traffic. Also remember that the SA-16 and SA-1

4/17/2009 12:32 PM CDT

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David A. Fulghum wrote:

Lets give this a try. The initial target customers are the USAF and RAF. Small deck carriers can carry AV-8, Predator C, V-22 and F-35B. The Navy was interested in the Predator B but they didn't want another propellor craft on the flight deck. The big carriers can carry N-UCAS and F-35C. The C can fly at 60,000 ft. which would work in the Hindu Kush where they need to look into deep valleys while avoiding an aural signature. The C also can carry a siging/comint package to monitor the bad guys where ever they are. Also the SA-16 and SA-18 are on the black market so you want to operate out of their reach. The SA-20 is on contract to Iran, Syria has the Tor. So it could get pretty exciting very quickly. Remember the Georgians, who failed militarily in almost every arean, managed to knock down at least four Russian aircraft including a Tu-22M.

4/17/2009 12:40 PM CDT

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