Poway-based General Atomics has made a killing – I say that with admiration – by anticipating DoD’s needs, and providing a solution prior to requirements definition. Which kind of turns the entire JCIDS process upside down, but saves an enormous amount of time, keeping in mind that when the federal bureaucracy is involved, time is indeed money.
DoD: We’re kicking around the idea of…
GA: Try this!
DoD: That actually, you know: Works.
Looks like GA has scored another win:
The US Air Force has ordered the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Predator C Avenger for deployment to Afghanistan. A single aircraft is being procured, marking what may be the type’s first order.
Although termed a test aircraft, the order fulfils an urgent request by secretary of defense Leon Panetta for reconnaissance and strike assets. Several untested aircraft and systems have been purchased or deployed under urgent operational requirements, including the Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout currently operating in Afghanistan.
“This aircraft will be used as a test asset and will provide a significantly increased weapons and sensors payload capacity on an aircraft that will be able to fly to targets much more rapidly than the MQ-9 [Reaper] UAS,” the USAF said in an announcement. “Since it has an internal weapons bay and four hardpoints on each wing it will also allow greater flexibility and will accommodate a large selection of next generation sensor and weapons payloads.”
Or if not a win, at least a foot in the door. Which these days…
A turbine-powered, stealthy UAV with greater payload.
Huh.
I’ve heard the bringback capacity is lacking. Something to work on I suppose.
Looking at photos of the Predator C and the MQ 88 Fire Scout, I’d say that they are as different as chalk and cheese. A turbine powered stealth aircraft versus a helicopter UAV? And if you read the critics in London’s Daily Mail, it looks like the MQ 88 has had problems meeting its mission requirements in tests. I don’t doubt that things will eventually get sorted out for the MQ 88. The aviation press reports that initial tests on the Predator C have gone very well. Of course they could have just been reprinting GA press releases. But GA is investing big time in new factory space, so they think they have a winner. And it’s got a tailhook.
This is the sort of thing that aviation companies did until the late ’50s – private venture designs. Some successful, others not – but all got to bypass the acquisition process. Given that GA has a long history with the CIA and with ACTD efforts, it should not surprise anyone.
And it’s a reminder that if you are working a UAV program, you have an engraved invitation to all wars, most crises, and not a few natural disasters. Whether you can get people to admit it and resource accordingly or not.
I’ll add that I consider Predator C to be more of a Reaper replacement than anything else. Speed comes in useful sometimes.
Those capabilities will be very useful when they support the SWAT teams that do the takedowns of cattle rustlers in North Dakota.