GNAT
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GNAT

GNAT

GNAT was initially created as a simplified version of export UAV LSI Amber. Apparatus General Atomics GNAT-750 first took to the air in 1989 year. At Amber Wing was installed on the pylon on the fuselage, and its upgraded version was a nizkoplan which at its own low weight could raise a much greater weight of the payload. Chassis tricycle with a nose wheel retracted. The flight duration was more than 12 hours, and the radius of action does not exceed the 2000 km.

After some time, General Atomics bought the rights to LSI and its developments. In 1993, the company entered into an agreement with the Turkish government for the supply of 6 GNAT-750 units and 16 I-GNAT ER transport vehicles, which increased the flight range. In the 90s, the bloc of communist countries collapsed, which made it possible for the US government to intervene in the internal affairs of some Eastern European countries, in particular the conflict in Yugoslavia. The development company under a contract with the US CIA began to refine the GNAT-750 UAV to carry out special assignments. There were bureaucratic obstacles in the case, and it would seem that the project would close, but in 94 the CIA special group, armed with a GNAT-750 UAV, arrived in Albania to carry out reconnaissance actions regarding the internal affairs of Yugoslavia. The operation was not particularly successful due to bad weather and some technological difficulties, nevertheless, the development of promising unmanned vehicles continued. A deep modernization led to the appearance of I-GNAT (Improved GNAT) with an installed Rotax 914 engine (power 105 HP). The new drone was more durable, more reliable and easier to operate.

Specialists General Atomics UAV used GNAT-750 as a basis for designing and creating the type of tactical UAVs Prowler - a large-scale version of its predecessor, with a wingspan m 7,31 4,24 when the length of the fuselage m. Was significantly increased the duration of the flight - 16 hours. Thus, both the first and second instances were unified.

GNAT. Characteristics:



Modification   GNAT-750 (I-GNAT)
Wingspan, m   10.76 (12.86)
Aircraft Length m   5.33 (6.32)
Height with landing gear, m   0.72
Weight, kg  
  empty   254 (385)
  maximum take-off   517 (700)
engine's type   1 PD Rotax 582 (Rotax 914)
Power, hp   1 x 64 (105)
Maximum speed km / h   193 (296)
Cruising speed, km / h   175
Flight distance, km   2780
Flight duration, h   48
Practical ceiling, m   7620 (9140)
Payload: target equipment weighing up to 150 kg gyro-stabilized turret (infrared system cameras, day and low light levels)

 

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