Aerial targets are unmanned aerial vehicles that imitate the capabilities of military aircraft. They
January 15, Sierra Technical with six monthslate introduced the fifth generation air targets - 5GAT. An unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured under this designation has a length of 12.2 m, a wingspan of 7.3 m and a maximum take-off mass of 4.4 tons.
It is planned that the device will be able to fly at altitudes of up to 13.7 thousand meters and reach a maximum speed of Mach 0.95.
Now the company plans to use 5GAT notonly as an aerial target, but also as an unmanned wingman who will be able to perform reconnaissance and take over fire in the event of an attack on manned fighters.
According to a company representative, the planecapable of flying faster than the unmanned slave XQ-58A. In addition, the device is equipped with stealth technologies. Sierra Technical notes that the cost of one unit in serial production will be less than $ 10 million.
Earlier, the American company Kratos introduced the launch system of the XQ-58A Valkyrie jet drones. It is assumed that it will be placed inside standard shipping containers.