General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) confirmed on 23 April 2024 that its Mojave unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), armed with miniguns, destroyed static targets in live-fire tests on 13 April 2024, validating the system’s battlefield relevance and recording another milestone for the demonstrator aircraft.
GA-ASI partnered with Dillon Aero to mount two Dillon DAP-6 Gun Pod Systems onto the Mojave UAV, with each pod containing a 7.62 mm M134 Hybrid Gatling Gun. The Mojave performed seven passes across two flights during the demonstration, expending around 10,000 rounds of ammunition as the UAV shredded a variety of targets.
The live-fire demonstration took place at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona and was funded via GA-ASI’s internal research and development budget.
“Seeing our Mojave perform this live-fire demo really emphasises the versatility of the Mojave [unmanned aerial system] and what it can do,” GA-ASI President David R Alexander was quoted as saying in a company press release. “Mojave has the ability to act as a sensor, shooter, and sustainer while mitigating threat environments and vulnerabilities and safeguarding human lives.”
The Mojave and its short take-off and landing (STOL) capability has built significant interest in the military and aerospace communities, according to GA-ASI. The UAV has a 1,633 kg payload capacity that can be brought to bear in areas once considered unsuitable for UAV operations. Its ability to operate from short unimproved landing sites as well as aircraft carriers – as it did in November 2023 as part of a demonstration with the UK Royal Navy – is changing expectations about how large UAVs can be used, GA-ASI added.
The Mojave technical demonstrator shares common systems and components with GA-ASI’s modernised Gray Eagle 25M UAV, effectively providing an expeditionary Gray Eagle STOL capability. In addition to a wing kit option for the Gray Eagle, GA-ASI is planning one for the larger MQ-9B airframe range, which includes the SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian UAVs.
