Video: Drone destroys targets using aerial cannon in a demonstration in the desert. Photos and video: Twitter Reproduction @GenAtomics_ASI
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) confirms that its Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Mojave destroyed static targets in live-fire tests on April 13, 2024, validating the system’s relevance on the battlefield and marking another milestone for the demonstrator aircraft.
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GA-ASI partnered with Dillon Aero to mount two of Dillon’s DAP-6 Gun Pod cannon systems on the Mojave aircraft. Mojave made seven passes in two flights during the demonstration, expending approximately 10,000 rounds of ammunition as the UAS shredded a variety of targets.
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“Seeing our Mojave perform this live-fire demonstration really emphasizes the versatility of the Mojave UAS and what it can do,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “The Mojave has the capability to act as a sensor, shooter, and sustainer, mitigating threat environments and vulnerabilities and protecting human lives.”
The Mojave and its Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) capability have generated significant interest in military and aerospace communities. The Mojave is unique: a UAS with significant payload capacity that can operate in areas previously deemed unsuitable for UAS operations. Its ability to take off and land from unimproved landing sites at short distances, as well as operate from aircraft carriers – as it did in November 2023 as part of a demonstration with the UK Royal Navy – is capturing imaginations and changing expectations about how large unmanned systems can be used.
The live-fire demonstration took place at the Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, and was funded by GA-ASI’s internal research and development budget.
The Mojave technical demonstrator shares common systems and components with GA-ASI’s upgraded Gray Eagle 25M, 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 aircraft, which includes the SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian models.
Source: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. Photos and video: Twitter Reproduction @GenAtomics_ASI. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
