Warplanes: April 8, 2004

Archives

General Atomics, the developer and manufacturer of the Predator UAV, has upgraded the Predators less capable predecessor, the Gnat, and created the I-Gnat (Improved Gnat.) The older Gnat 750 was developed in the late 1980s, and looks like the Predator. In fact, the Predator was developed as a slightly larger (49 foot wingspan compared to 35 for the Gnat, and 42 feet for the I-Gnat) aircraft. Although it is 20 percent lighter than the Predator, the I-Gnat has a payload of 650 pounds (compared to 143 pounds for the Gnat 750 and 450 pounds for the Predator), and can stay in the air for up to 50 hours (20 percent more endurance than the Predator). The I-Gnat also takes advantage of ever lighter and more reliable electronics. The Predator and I-Gnat actually use the same engine, and many mechanical and electronic components. The I-Gnat also comes with five attachment devices ("hard points", two under each wing and one under the fuselage) for weapons or equipment. Hellfire missiles, which have been used from a Predator, weigh 100 pounds each. New guided weapons like the Viper weigh less than half that. Three I-Gnats are going to Iraq next month.

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contribute. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   contribute   Close