General Atomics Aeronautics (GA-ASI) has recently released a video showing the capabilities of its STOL or Short Take-off and Landing UAV, the MOJAVE. Followed by the news of a contract worth $1.9 million between GA-ASI and the Royal Navy to “demonstrate a threshold capability for SVTOL unmanned aerial vehicles.” UAS is likely to demonstrate its capabilities aboard the Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales carrier.
MOJAVE can be termed “Bushflyer’s UAV” has designed features that make it suitable for short and unprepared airstrips with insanely low takeoff distances. With a MTOW of 3,175 kg and a wingspan of 16 m, the UAV is capable of carrying up to 16 Hellfire missiles.
MOJAVE has takeoff distances as low as 350 ft in ISR configuration and 1000 ft while carrying 12 Hellfire. Aircraft can be deployed by a C-130 on short notice and require minimal resources to make it battle-ready within 90 minutes.
The latest flight trails have successfully demonstrated take-off and landing capability within 300 ft.
