French aerospace magazine Air & Cosmos has published a photograph of a mystery flying-wing aircraft taken at Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2007. Darren Lake of Shephard's UVOnline first reported the existence of the unknown and presumed unmanned aircraft in March. Air & Cosmos has generously provided us with the picture.
[UPDATE: for copyright reasons, Air & Cosmos has sent us a different picture, which I have substituted for the original.]
Credit: Air & Cosmos
Air & Cosmos was sent the picture by someone operating with the French in Afghanistan. It confirms the overall configuration shown in the artist's concept produced by Shephard and based on a long-distance photograph of the aircraft taxiing at Kandahar. Bill has dubbed it the "Beast of Kandahar".
Credit: Shepard, UVOnline
http://www.nogw.com/images/polecat_lockeed_martin.jpg
A blended wing would be fairly deep. Larger low pressure tires could give the aircraft unimproved field capability. Nothing like getting a little closer to the fight with a little more payload and a bit less gas.
Any information on where the pic was taken? Might hint whether its aimed at Pakistan or Iran. If the latter, perhaps a stealthy ISR UAS? If Pakistan, probably a stealthy strike A/C to avoid radar contact being passed on to the targets prior to the release of ordinance.