Perhaps it is Lockheed Martin's mysterious Desert Prowler UAV. It has yet to be publicly acknowledged although it first flew in 2005.

The polecat has a 1000lb payload capacity. Perhaps this is tweaked version with a larger payload capacity necessary to deliver a bomb large enough to inflict some damage in the precarious mountain regions of Afghanistan. Perhaps a Mark 84 variant.

It may be a long shot but the Predator C has reportedly just made its “first” flight. The rumours I’ve heard is that it has gone through a pretty extensive redesign, not sure if it’s to that extent or not but I suppose it’s worth keeping in mind.

It was an Iranian UAV. I trust my sources on this one.

Originally posted by Shadowhawk
Perhaps it is Lockheed Martin's mysterious Desert Prowler UAV. It has yet to be publicly acknowledged although it first flew in 2005.

This is a distinct posibility. trevor Plagens book showed two unit patches for the airframe but there has been ZERO in terms of information about it.

I would sure like to see the original photos from which the artist's concept was derived. I compared the image to one of the Polecat taken from the exact same angle. The resemblance is striking.

Both aircraft appear to have nearly identical planforms. The Polecat has two wheels on each main gear truck while the new UAV has one. The landing gear door configurations are different. The Polecat has two engines where the new craft appears to have only one, along with more prominent intakes.

The Polecat made its first flight in mid 2005 and Desert Prowler followed in late 2005. The Polecat was used to demonstrate rapid prototyping techniques. It was meant to fly at high altitudes (around 65,000 feet) but was lost during its third flight, before any significant envelope expansion had taken place. Desert Prowler's mission is unknown and no information has been released. Two mottos associated with the project are, "Alone and on the prowl" and "Alone and unafraid." The Polecat was tested at Area 6 (Yucca Lake) as a company sponsored project. Desert Prowler may have been tested at Area 51 (Groom Lake), or possibly at Area 6, with participation by personnel from the Red Hats unit of the classified test wing (Det. 3, AFFTC).

Of course, the mystery UAV may have no connection to either of these but the resemblance to Polecat is interesting.

FredT, I'm not sure why you think you are disagreeing with me. I said that Desert Prowler may have been tested at Groom Lake. I believe it most likely was tested there. On the other hand, it may - like Polecat - have been tested at Area 6 but with assistance from organizations at Groom (in this case, the Red Hats). The patches certainly suggest their involvement. It's exactly the point I was making. Where did you think Trevor got those patches anyway?

You know what guys? I'm remembering the hamering that Mad Greebo took back in 2006 when he posted a UAV image that was dismissed asa fake but bears a strong resemblance to this, from what I remember.