The Mojave UAV became a carrier of GAP-6 machine gun containers
Mojave UAV with mixed weapons, 2022. At the extreme points of the suspension there are GAP-6 machine gun containers
Modern heavy-class reconnaissance and strike UAVs are armed with guided missiles and bombs, which allow them to hit ground and surface targets. Barrel weapons are not installed on such equipment for obvious reasons. However, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems decided to explore this potential. drones and carried out appropriate tests. The promising Mojave UAV became an experimental carrier of machine gun containers.
Experienced way
Apparently, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has long considered the issue of expanding the range of weapons of heavy UAVs and supplementing it with suspended machine gun or cannon containers. So, back in 2022, she published a photograph of an experimental Mojave device with a mixed combat load. Missiles and bombs of various types were suspended under the wing, as well as a pair of DAP-6 containers with 7,62 mm M134 machine guns. However, then there were no clarifications.
New information about the use of containers on Mojave appeared only recently, on April 23, 2024. The GA-ASI company announced in an official press release that on April 13, the first tests of a UAV with unusual suspended weapons took place. The events were carried out on their own initiative and at the expense of the drone developer company. They brought in container manufacturing company Dillon Aero. The tests took place at the Yuma Army Proving Ground (Arizona).
Before the shooting flights, ground tests took place. To test and test the software and hardware, the Mojave UAV, mounted on the ground, fired machine guns at a target measuring 8x4 feet (approx. 2,4x1,2 m). When it was possible to achieve a stable target hit, preparations for flights began.
Preparing the container for firing, 2024
To conduct flight tests, two DAP-6 containers with M134 machine guns were suspended from the pylons of the Mojave UAV. The drone performed two flights with such a load, in between which the containers were reloaded. The device made approaches to training targets and fired in a shallow dive. Seven shooting attacks were reported. During the tests, two machine guns expended approx. 10 thousand rounds. The results of the shooting have not been disclosed.
A short video about the tests has been published. It shows the process of preparing UAVs and containers, testing on the ground, as well as flying and firing in the air. In addition, one of the cameras was installed near a training target, the role of which was played by a decommissioned pickup truck. After another shelling, the target exploded. It was probably equipped with a demolition charge for external effect.
Estimates and forecasts
The purpose of the tests was to demonstrate the possibility of equipping a heavy UAV with cannon weapons. The experienced Mojave coped with the assigned task and was able to use machine guns and hit a training target. The tests were considered successful, and GA-ASI highly appreciates their results.
The press release notes that the Mojave has proven itself to be a versatile air vehicle. He can conduct reconnaissance, strike with precision weapons and provide air support to ground units. At the same time, all the characteristic advantages of UAVs are preserved, such as the absence of risks for the system operator.
Now GA-ASI plans to continue work and improve the characteristics of the resulting strike complex. Due to improvements in software and hardware, they are going to increase the accuracy of fire and other indicators. In this case, DAP-6 containers with a fixed machine gun will continue to be used.
Ground fire tests
At the next stage, they want to create containers with movable weapons that will move synchronously with the optical-electronic station of the drone. Such containers will have a much larger fire zone, which will give a clear increase in combat effectiveness. How soon they will be able to present a new container and show a UAV with such weapons is unknown.
Material part
Drone aviation The Mojave system is the latest development by GA-ASI in the field of heavy reconnaissance and strike UAVs. The project was created at the end of the last decade, and in July 2021, an experimental drone made its first flight. However, the official presentation took place only a few months later, in December of the same year.
Externally and in design, Mojave is similar to previous UAVs from GA-ASI, but its development used modern technologies and components, as well as experience from operating existing products. The device is built according to a high-wing design with a straight wing and a Y-shaped tail. The new Mojave differs from older UAVs in improved wing mechanization, reinforced landing gear, etc. The length of the drone reaches 9 m, the wingspan is 16 m. The maximum take-off weight is 3175 kg.
The UAV is equipped with a Rolls-Royce M250 turboprop engine with a power of 450 hp. The engine is located at the rear of the fuselage, has a top air intake and rotates a pusher propeller. This power plant allows the device to fly at an average subsonic speed and remain in the air for at least a day. Mojave has high takeoff and landing characteristics and does not impose any special requirements on the home airfield. In addition, experiments were carried out with landing and takeoff from an aircraft carrier.
Mojave received an autopilot and remote control system similar to those used in previous GA-ASI projects. Control is carried out by two operators from a ground station. Judging by the distinctive nose cone, the UAV has a satellite communications system that dramatically improves deployment capabilities and range. To conduct reconnaissance and use weapons, the UAV carries an optical-electronic “ball”. It is possible to install additional systems of various kinds with full integration into the on-board electronics complex.
Mojave takes off with a new payload, April 13, 2024.
The Mojave's payload reaches 1600 kg. To accommodate it, there are three suspension points under each plane and one under the fuselage. The load on one unit varies within 160-290 kg. Until recently, the main weapon of the drone was the AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missile. In the future, integration of the new AGM-179 JAGM missile is planned. Now they have confirmed the possibility of suspension and use of GAP-6 machine gun containers.
Dillon Aero's GAP-6 is a suspended container with a machine gun and ammunition feed systems. The total length of the product together with the block of M134 barrels reaches 2,4 m, diameter – 333x390 mm. The empty weight of the container with weapons is 73,5 kg, with full ammunition - 159 kg. The container is suspended on standard beam holders and connected to the carrier's weapons control systems.
The container carries a six-barrel machine gun with a rotating block of barrels M134D-H. The ammunition supply system accommodates a belt for 3 thousand rounds of 7,62x51 mm cartridges. Rate of fire – 3 thousand rounds/min. The effective fire range is at least 1 km.
Important experiment
GA-ASI's experiment with equipping a heavy UAV with machine gun containers is of great interest. It showed the fundamental possibility of expanding the range of weapons of a reconnaissance and attack drone and its ability to solve new problems. At the same time, not only the installation of GAP-6 containers on the Mojave device itself is of great importance, but also the technical solutions that ensured it.
Thus, a machine gun container imposes specific requirements on the carrier pylons. When fired, it creates a significant recoil impulse, which can negatively affect the airframe. Recent testing has shown that Mojave can cope with such loads. The structure is not damaged, and the established aiming is maintained. A rapid-fire machine gun also creates a flow of powder gases. The high location of the air intake prevents them from entering the engine and disrupting its operation.
Shooting in flight
The project developers had to pay attention to the systems and algorithms for controlling the drone. The fact is that course machine gun weapons are used in dives at limited altitudes. This flight mode is not typical for Mojave-type UAVs and creates understandable risks. In this regard, it was necessary to study the behavior of the drone during a dive, its maneuverability in this mode, etc. It was probably necessary to refine the control algorithms to obtain the required maneuverability and eliminate possible accidents.
The work carried out has laid the foundation for the further development of an interesting concept. In particular, GA-ASI and Dillon Aero are going to create a new container with a movable machine gun, which has an increased firing sector. The ability to aim weapons will increase the firing sector, and also expand the flight modes for using a machine gun.
Work continues
As part of an interesting experiment, GA-ASI was able to demonstrate a new method of combat use of an existing UAV. Barrel weapons can be used to provide fire support to troops and/or to engage targets that would not require expensive, long-range missiles. Now it is planned to develop proven ideas and introduce new solutions.
The development companies have already announced new tests, although they did not specify the dates for their conduct. We can expect that they will continue to work on installing barreled weapons on UAVs and will not limit themselves to just the Mojave. It is unknown how difficult it will be to fine-tune the updated unmanned system. But if all this work is successful and gives the desired result, then the Pentagon may pay attention to them. The interest of the military department will give the project a great future.
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