Aviation Naval Warfare Land Systems Small Arms By Flag By Year By Tag

General Atomics Sea Avenger

2020 MODERN AIRCRAFT X-PLANE DRONE TECHNOLOGY FUTURE FLIGHT

General Atomics Sea Avenger Story

The U.S. Navys Unmanned Carrier Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) program has been launched to provide a sustainable carrier-based UAV combat system that can interoperate with existing Navy aircraft and systems. UCLASS vehicles are expected to perform a variety of functions once reserved for manned aircraft systems, including intelligence gathering, aerial reconnaissance, target acquisition and light attack capabilities.

The UCLASS project is expected to announce a contract sometime in the third quarter of fiscal 2015.

To this end, General Atomics, best known for its popular "Predator" series of drones, has begun development of its upcoming Avengers series ("Predator C") for the U.S. Air Force in the form of Demonstrator. Dubbed the Sea Avenger, the new variant is expected to be larger than its land-based predecessor, which has been modified for the rigors of sea combat. The plane will use jet engines hidden in the contours of the fuselage, applying stealth characteristics where possible.

Additionally, a sensor package will be retractable into the fuselage for camouflage, and communications will be via satellite - in coordination with existing USN systems and hardware. The expanded nature of the Ocean Avenger will also encourage greater internal capacity to accommodate larger ammunition compared to the Avenger product.

In addition to the internal weapons bay, the drone will be equipped with external hardpoints, and one concept is a "buddy" aerial tanker in flight to service accompanying fighter jets.

Avenger of the Seas is currently a very optimistic design that will compete with products from Lockheed, Northrop and Boeing in an attempt to provide the required range and range at/below cost task capability. Northrop's bid is expected to consist of their existing X-47B carrier-based demonstrator.

Lockheed's model is known as the "Sea Ghost," while the Boeing model may have come from their "Phantom Ray" efforts.