General 
Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced the inaugural flight of its second jet-powered Predator C Avenger remotely piloted aircraft. “The first flight of our second Avenger aircraft is a significant achievement as it refines the first prototype design to an operational capability,” said Frank Pace, president of the company’s Aircraft Systems Group. The flight took place at the company’s facility in Palmdale, Calif., in mid January, meeting all performance objectives, according to the company. This airframe, Tail 2, features a fuselage that is four feet longer than the one on the first Avenger aircraft to accommodate larger payloads and fuel. General Atomics has matured Avenger on its own dime, believing that its performance attributes would meet the Air Force’s emerging requirements for a next-generation, multi-mission RPA. The first Avenger aircraft made its maiden flight in April 2009. In December, the Air Force disclosed that it was acquiring an Avenger air vehicle for use as a test asset. The company said production of the third and fourth Avenger air vehicles is underway.
U.S. munitions have been expended at a high rate during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, prompting concerns that the Pentagon is eating into weapons stockpiles it needs to deter threats around the world. Yet the newly released $1.5 trillion defense budget request was developed before the war against Iran and…