Fri, Nov 18, 2016
Updated UAV Has Increased Endurance And Capability
The first flight of the General Atomics Avenger Extended Range (ER) was completed recently at the company's Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility in Palmdale, CA. The aircraft is an extended range version of its multi-mission jet-powered Predator C Avenger which has accumulated over 13,000 flight hours to date.
"The first flight of Avenger ER is a significant achievement in the evolution of Predator C's proven performance and multi-mission capability," said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. "The increased endurance and high payload capacity will deliver tremendous capability to our customers, who need persistent situational awareness and strike mission affordability."
With an increased wingspan of 76 feet and 2,200 pounds of additional fuel, Avenger ER extends the legacy Avenger's already impressive endurance from 15 hours to 20 hours. The RPA provides an optimal balance of long loiter Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and precision-strike capability, supporting a wide array of sensors and weapons payloads to perform ISR and ground support missions. Like the legacy Avenger, Avenger ER features avionics based upon the combat-proven Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper, has a 44-foot long fuselage, 3,000-pound payload bay, and is capable of flying at over 400 KTAS. Avenger ER, along with its predecessor, is designed to carry payloads such as the all-weather GA-ASI Lynx Multi-mode Radar, the MS-177 Electro-optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor, and the 2,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM).
GA-ASI developed Avenger on Internal Research and Development (IRAD) funds with the intent of making a RPA that has a quick-response, armed reconnaissance capability. First flown in April 2009, the aircraft's fuselage was extended by four feet in 2012 to accommodate larger payloads and fuel. Avenger received a FAA-issued Experimental Certificate (EC) in 2016, enabling it to operate in the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS).
(Image provided with General Atomics news release)
More News
Ultrahigh Frequency (UHF) The frequency band between 300 and 3,000 MHz. The bank of radio frequencies used for military air/ground voice communications. In some instances this may >[...]
During The 7 Second Descent, There Was Another TAWS Alert At Which Time The Engine Remained At Full Power On October 24, 2025 at 2115 mountain daylight time, a Cirrus SR22T, N740TS>[...]
From 2009 (YouTube Edition): Educational Organization Aims to Inspire by Sharing Tuskegee Story Founding leader Don Hinz summarized the Red Tail Project’s mission in simple, >[...]
“This feels like an important step since space travel for people with disabilities is still in its very early days... I’m so thankful and hope it inspires a change in m>[...]
Also: New Katanas, Kern County FD Training, IndiGo’s Botched Roster, MGen. Leavitt Named ERAU Dean The Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) has wrapped up its inves>[...]
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (12.19.25): Ultrahigh Frequency (UHF)
See All