THE recent launch of the largest uncrewed aircraft ever from a Royal Navy aircraft carrier, codenamed 'Mojave,' marks a milestone for the future of UK naval air power, reports Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.
Operated remotely by a pilot at a computer terminal, Mojave took off from and safely landed on HMS Prince of Wales during a unique trial off Virginia.
This specially modified aircraft, boasting a remarkable size-nine metres long, with a wingspan of 17 metres (six metres wider than an F-35B Lightning stealth fighter) and a weight exceeding 1.5 tonnes when fully loaded-achieved a feat never before accomplished outside the US Navy.
The trial off the coast of Virginia showcases the potential of the UK's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and demonstrates the compatibility of modern uncrewed air systems with fifth-generation crewed aircraft like the Lightnings.
The success of this trial signals a new era in maritime aviation, representing an exciting step in the evolution of the Royal Navy's carrier strike group into a combined crewed and uncrewed fighting force.
While the Royal Navy has two decades of experience operating pilotless aircraft for short-range surveillance operations, Mojave, a modified version of the MQ1C Gray Eagle aircraft, stands out as a larger and more complex system capable of performing extended missions from medium altitude.
Produced by the US company General Atomics, Mojave is part of the same aircraft family as the Royal Air Force's new Protector RG Mk1, showcasing its capability for conducting long-range surveillance and strike missions over extensive areas.
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Operated remotely by a pilot at a computer terminal, Mojave took off from and safely landed on HMS Prince of Wales during a unique trial off Virginia.
This specially modified aircraft, boasting a remarkable size-nine metres long, with a wingspan of 17 metres (six metres wider than an F-35B Lightning stealth fighter) and a weight exceeding 1.5 tonnes when fully loaded-achieved a feat never before accomplished outside the US Navy.
The trial off the coast of Virginia showcases the potential of the UK's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and demonstrates the compatibility of modern uncrewed air systems with fifth-generation crewed aircraft like the Lightnings.
The success of this trial signals a new era in maritime aviation, representing an exciting step in the evolution of the Royal Navy's carrier strike group into a combined crewed and uncrewed fighting force.
While the Royal Navy has two decades of experience operating pilotless aircraft for short-range surveillance operations, Mojave, a modified version of the MQ1C Gray Eagle aircraft, stands out as a larger and more complex system capable of performing extended missions from medium altitude.
Produced by the US company General Atomics, Mojave is part of the same aircraft family as the Royal Air Force's new Protector RG Mk1, showcasing its capability for conducting long-range surveillance and strike missions over extensive areas.
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