Predator C

The Predator C, dubbed ‘Avenger’ by GA-ASI, is the latest member of the Predator family, following on from the successful R/MQ-1 Predator A, Gnat and I-Gnat, diesel powered MQ-1C Sky Warrior, and the turboprop R/MQ-9 Predator B Reaper and their various derivatives. The jet powerplant and swept wing promise to give the latest iteration transit speeds of 400kt and faster response times, and thus, greater flexibility than its slower, prop powered brethren. Initial development of the aircraft has been privately funded by GA-ASI without a stated requirement from the US DoD.

“Following in the footsteps of the proven Predator B, Avenger adds yet another flexible and multi-mission capability to the Predator UAS series and is a testament to GA-ASI’s continuing practice of developing and delivering proven unmanned aircraft to military customers,” said GA-ASI’s president, Thomas Cassidy Jr. “Our company has been uniquely successful in forecasting military needs and delivering extremely capable unmanned aircraft that are ready for near-term military use. Just as the first two Predator B aircraft were developed and flown on IRAD (Internal Research and Development) funding because we saw the need for this type of capability, likewise, Avenger was developed through foresight and significant company investment.”

The first prototype Predator C is powered by the Pratt & Whitney PW545B from the Cessna Citation XLS and rated at 21.35kN (4800lb) thrust, and can carry a similar weapons mix of 250kg GPS and laser guided bombs and Hellfire missiles as the Predator B in an internal weapons bay, as well as additional weapons or sensors on underwing pylons. The fuselage is 12.5m (41-feet) long fuselage and the aircraft has a 20m (66-foot) wingspan, although the second and subsequent prototypes will be about 60cm (two feet) longer. The jet engine and high wing loading give the aircraft an operating ceiling of up to 60,000 feet and an endurance of up to 20 hours. The landing gear is the same as that on the Northrop F-5 and is equipped with an anti-skid system.

Interestingly from a potential US Navy application, the prototype aircraft has also been equipped with a tail hook and with inboard folding wings which may point to a possible future employment from aircraft carriers. The deeper inboard section of the wing carries fuel along with a fuselage tank, and auxiliary tanks can also be installed in the internal bay for additional endurance or long range deployment flights.

GA-ASI is expected to market the Predator C as a stealthy, fast armed reconnaissance system, one that can ‘plug in’ to existing Ground Control Stations (GCSs) used to control other members of the Predator family. The three metre long internal weapons bay can be adapted to carry a GA-ASI Lynx Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) as well as Electro-optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensors, a full-motion video sensor, and as a system based on Lockheed Martin’s F-35 FLIR is reportedly also being evaluated for the aircraft.

The aircraft also features several radar cross section reducing features including the internal weapons/sensor bay, the clean blended wing/body join, the V-tails, a pinched chine running at mid fuselage, the shrouded flat engine exhaust, and the upper fuselage engine intake, all of which will add to the aircraft’s survivability in high or medium threat environments.

“Avenger further defines the level of technical innovation that American companies are capable of producing, and this kind of company initiative saves the government extensive amounts of money and development time while providing the war fighter with new combat systems quickly,” added Cassidy. “This aircraft was designed, developed, and successfully flown while concurrently developing Sky Warrior for the US Army, adding new capabilities to MQ-9 Reaper for the USAF, and satisfying high-volume/accelerating orders for (other) Predator-series UAS.”

GA-ASI officials have reportedly said the company can have production ready Predator Cs rolling out of its new Poway, California production facility within 10 months of go ahead, while Predator A and B models will continue to be built at the company’s Rancho Bernado facility near San Diego.