The Predator C remotely piloted aircraft flies for the first time. The Avenger is the latest in the Predator family, including USAF’s MQ-1 Predator (Predator A) and MQ-9 Reaper (Predator B), offered by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. The Avenger is slightly larger than the Reaper and is designed to be more survivable in higher threat environments.
A top Pentagon tech official called on industry this week to help the military develop “lighter, more efficient” directed energy weapons designed to go on aircraft and conduct special operations missions or down drones—areas where the Air Force’s directed energy efforts have been quiet as of late.