General Atomics' Mojave short take-off and landing drone armed with a pair of Dillon Aero DAP-6 Minigun pods shredded several static targets in a first-of-its-kind live-fire demonstration earlier this month. The company already has plans to further build on this new capability. This also comes as it is looking to pitch something of a hybrid of Mojave and its MQ-1C Gray Eagle to the U.S. Army as a new armed reconnaissance platform following the service's cancellation of its most recent armed scout helicopter program. The DAP-6-armed Mojave engaged multiple ground targets in seven strafing runs across two separate sorties on April 13, according to a press release and accompanying video, seen below, that General Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) put out today. At one point in the video, a Chevy pickup truck is seen exploding. The 7.62x51mm rounds that a Minigun fires are not explosive, but the truck could've been rigged with explosives or fuel inside of it could have ignited.
JJ is a bright, hard-working aerospace engineer; recently graduated and his first job is with GA on this drone project; he's responsible for liaison with FAA to get flight certification, is my understanding.
_________________________ “Remember, remember the fifth of November!"
Yup. The article links to videos of STOL performance, take-off and landing from the HMS Prince of Wales, other capabilities. Still experimental.
_________________________ “Remember, remember the fifth of November!"
April 24, 2024, 12:38 AM
konata88
Pretty cool!
Dumb questions:
1. Why would firing 6000 rounds per minute be necessary?
2. How do they make it cycle so fast?
3. How many rounds to they carry?
4. Do they have different modes? Can you set it to fire 600 rounds per minute? For example.
"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy "A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book
April 24, 2024, 01:05 AM
kkina
Don't know the other answers, but no. 2 is those pods house Dillon miniguns.
Originally posted by kkina: Don't know the other answers, but no. 2 is those pods house Dillon miniguns.
Multiple rotating barrels This one looks man operated, with the hand controls at the rear.
The Enemy's gate is down.
April 24, 2024, 07:04 AM
ElToro
That’s a pretty cool first job.
I know those guns are electric powered Vs recoil or gas from the fired round powered
I would presume but don’t know for sure, since it’s an electric motor turning the barrels the speed could be set slower.
April 24, 2024, 07:24 AM
vinnybass
That's pretty cool.
'lil brrrrt?
"We're all travelers in this world. From the sweet grass to the packing house. Birth 'til death. We travel between the eternities."
April 24, 2024, 07:51 AM
architect
Fun toy. Could be very handy in a SHTF scenario. Unfortunately, operation of a drone inside the DC beltway is prohibited.
April 24, 2024, 08:41 AM
229DAK
Blain Cooper would know how to use it.
_________________________________________________________________________ “A man’s treatment of a dog is no indication of the man’s nature, but his treatment of a cat is. It is the crucial test. None but the humane treat a cat well.” -- Mark Twain, 1902
April 24, 2024, 09:10 AM
Expert308
Dear Santa:
I'm being a very good boy this year, and I have a special request for you...
April 24, 2024, 09:31 AM
Timdogg6
Man that looks epic. It also looks like the death of the A10. Ground units able to lase bad guys with that fucker overhead raining death and cover as needed. Seems brutally effective for close air support.
__________________________ The entire reason for the Second Amendment is not for hunting, it’s not for target shooting … it’s there so that you and I can protect our homes and our children and and our families and our lives. And it’s also there as fundamental check on government tyranny. Sen Ted Cruz
April 24, 2024, 10:00 AM
1s1k
quote:
Originally posted by Timdogg6: Man that looks epic. It also looks like the death of the A10. Ground units able to lase bad guys with that fucker overhead raining death and cover as needed. Seems brutally effective for close air support.
That’s pretty much how I see it. That and not putting any of our guys in harms way seems perfect for the mission.
April 24, 2024, 10:05 AM
trapper189
I can afford a 6 second burst.
April 24, 2024, 12:20 PM
kkina
quote:
4. Do they have different modes? Can you set it to fire 600 rounds per minute? For example.
I think it depends on the model. I think early ones were preset at 6,000 RPM, then selectable between 2,000 and 4,000 RPM, later it was preset at 3,000. Believe the newest ones are variable from 2,000 and 6,000. Or something like that.
Why would firing 6000 rounds per minute be necessary?
Necessary because the 7,000 rounds per minute version is still under development.
הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים
April 24, 2024, 12:58 PM
kkina
quote:
1. Why would firing 6000 rounds per minute be necessary?
Miniguns were first used in Vietnam to deal with the enemy shooting at helicopters from the jungle. Single barrel machine guns didn't have the coverage or firepower. They also excel at suppressive fire, or multiple targets in a limited area like groups of soldiers, or getting multiple hits on vehicles and fortified positions. They are not so great at small, single targets.
1. Why would firing 6000 rounds per minute be necessary?
It creates a nearly solid 7.62mm diameter stream of high density material (I do not think it is lead but depleted uranium)
the weapon system will shoot in 1-2 second bursts.
Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
"If dogs don't go to Heaven, I want to go where they go" Will Rogers
The definition of the words we used, carry a meaning of their own...
April 24, 2024, 01:43 PM
CPD SIG
quote:
Originally posted by V-Tail:
quote:
Originally posted by konata88:
Why would firing 6000 rounds per minute be necessary?
Necessary because the 7,000 rounds per minute version is still under development.
And 5000 just wasn’t cutting it.
On a more serious note- Sometimes you just need to dish out that much hate and discontent on the enemy.
It’s done with rotating barrels. There’s some neat YouTube videos on the system and how it works.
______________________________________________________________________ "When its time to shoot, shoot. Dont talk!"
“What the government is good at is collecting taxes, taking away your freedoms and killing people. It’s not good at much else.” —Author Tom Clancy
April 24, 2024, 01:51 PM
Hound Dog
quote:
Originally posted by konata88: Pretty cool!
Dumb questions:
1. Why would firing 6000 rounds per minute be necessary?
Because just IMAGINE being on the receiving end of this:
I mean, it's like the finger of a wrathful god smiting everything it touches.
Sure, it isn't very good against heavily armored targets like tanks (it is only a 7.62, after all), but it's murder on thin-skinned vehicles and fleshy bits.
The more they weaponize drones, the more I think of the Terminator franchise. It's good, though, in that these unmanned systems should reduce casualties (on our side, at least).
Fear God and Dread Nought Admiral of the Fleet Sir Jacky Fisher
