Predator C Avenger Makes First Flights, page 1

AWST has alot fo detail about the Preadator C which is entering flight test right now.

new, reduced-signature, unmanned aircraft—the long-rumored, 20-hr.-endurance, pure-jet Predator C Avenger—has emerged from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ workshops after a 3½-year gestation period paced by massive growth in UAV production and the use of unmanned designs in combat.

The UAV’s undeniably stealthed-up exterior offers several clues about how the aircraft could be employed.

A weapons bay allows internal carriage of 500-lb. bombs with GBU-38 JDAM tail kit and laser guidance. Given the aircraft’s 41-ft. length (which will expand by at least 2 ft. in the second test aircraft), the weapons bay appears to be 10 ft. long.
www.aviationweek.com.../aw st_xml/2009/04/20/AW_04_20_2009_p50-133062.xml&headline=Predator+C+Avenger+Makes+First+Flights

Its subscription only guys so sorry.

But the highlights:

10 foot internal weapons bay
20 hour endurance
Intially its expected to have less than the 45kva that the B&C have interms of electrical power. Its unclear at this time how they will up it or if it will limit systems.

The vertically-oriented V-tail both deflects radar and shields the 4,800-lb. thrust Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW545B engine exhaust’s infrared signature. Predator C has two all-flying tail surfaces with two servos each for flight-control redundancy. The humpbacked design of the engine compartment offers room enough for a serpentine exhaust that eliminates radar observation of the engine. Pratt & Whitney has been developing an S-shaped exhaust that offers protection from radar observation and cooling to reduce the IR signature. The engine is expected to provide an airspeed of at least 400 kt., but Cassidy says envelope expansion tests may produce speeds “considerably greater” than that. Its operational altitude is up to 60,000 ft.
www.aviationweek.com.../aw st_xml/2009/04/20/AW_04_20_2009_p50-133062.xml&headline=Predator+C+Avenger+Makes+First+Flights

It comes with a tailhook and folding wings for shipboard operations

reply to post by FredT

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Wow! The Predator C Avenger is one sweet looking UAV! Holy cow, it's so advanced since the early iterations of Predator. Undoubtedly it's performance will surpass all expectations. Honestly, I had no idea this so close to being finished. Thanks, FredT, excellent post.

Edit: BTW, I love your Raptor avatar. I'm a big fan of the F-22.

[edit on 9-8-2009 by carnival_of_souls2047]

[edit on 9-8-2009 by carnival_of_souls2047]

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