BELFAST — General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) wants to use a forthcoming Mojave short take-off and landing (STOL) UAV demonstrator trial off UK aircraft carrier Prince of Wales to shape development of a MQ-9B STOL configuration program.
As part of a four-month deployment by the warship to the eastern US seaboard, designed to mature operations with drones, fighter jets, helicopters and tiltrotors, Mojave for the first time will take-off and attempt to land on the vessel’s 901-foot-long deck, weather permitting.
“The intent is to launch the [Mojave] aircraft from the aircraft carrier and if conditions are suitable, we’ll look at recovering it,” said Jaime Walters, vice president of international strategic development at GA-ASI. “This is an experimentation so we don’t want to push the envelope too hard. We think this will really be the kick starter to a future MQ-9B STOL configuration and development program.”
The trial is part of a £1.25 million ($1.5 million) contract issued in May by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to GA-ASI, with the stated intention of carrying out “trials/experiments in order to demonstrate a threshold capability for a Short Take off and Landing Uncrewed Air Vehicle (UAV).” The MoD also said at the time that the “experiments” would influence future investment plans.
A Royal Navy spokesperson confirmed to Breaking Defense in a statement that the Mojave trial is planned to go ahead in November as part of the service “exploring innovation for future carrier ops.”
Prior to the latest deployment starting in September, the Prince of Wales had not been at sea since August 2022, when a mechanical break down caused by a starboard propeller shaft misalignment prematurely ended a training exercise to the US — just one day after departing its home base of Portsmouth, England. An investigation subsequently found that an installation error led to a shaft misalignment of 0.8mm to 1mm.
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Upon returning to sea, the Royal Navy tested Prince of Wales drone take-off and landing operations for the first time using a W Autonomous Systems (WAS) UAV. The aircraft flew from the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, England, and delivered supplies to the warship in September, according to a statement.
For General Atomics, the new Mojave test could open the way to a MQ-9B STOL program that has already “caught the imagination” of a variety of European navies, including France, Italy and Spain, according to Walters.
He explained that the new configuration is based on detaching the wings from the medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAV and integrating a STOL kit, eliminating the need for a catapult or arresting gear when recovering the aircraft.
Walters said that the “biggest thing” the MQ-9B STOL aircraft could offer Carrier Strike Group or Surface Action Group (SAG) operations would be “deck cycle” protection and surveillance coverage.
“It really provides early warning [threat] indicators,” for the carrier, he added.
Mojave was first unveiled by General Atomics in December 2021 and is designed for expeditionary missions. The aircraft can take off and land from undeveloped terrain. It has a wing span of 52 feet, an endurance longer than 25 hours and can carry up to 16 hellfire missiles, according to GA-ASI company literature.
The manufacturer is currently under contract to supply the UK Royal Air Force with 16 MQ-9B SkyGuardian (known as Protector in British service) MALE UAVs, a first of which was delivered earlier this month.
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