US Air Force buys new fastest, largest hunter-killer armed drone

Washington, Dec 31 (ANI): The United States Air Force has purchased a new hunter-killer aircraft that is the fastest and largest armed drone in its fleet.

The Avenger, which cost the military 15 million dollars, is the latest version of the Predator drones made by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. a San Diego-based company that also builds the robotic MQ-9 Reapers for the Air Force and Central Intelligence Agency.

The new radar-evading aircraft, also known as the Predator C, is General Atomics' third version of these drones, The Los Angles Times reports.

According to defense industry analysts, the Avenger represents a major technological advance over the other Predator and Reaper drones that the Obama administration has increasingly relied on to hunt and destroy targets in Asia and the Middle East.

With a length of 44 feet and a maximum take off weight of 15,800 pounds, the Avenger can carry more weaponry than its predecessors, the paper said.

The Avenger has 66-foot wingspans and can reach a maximum altitude of about 50,000 feet.

According to the paper, the Avenger is considered one of the contenders to replace older Predators and Reapers. It is also likely to be in the running for the Navy's upcoming carrier-launched drone programme.

Meanwhile, Pentagon spokeswoman Jennifer Cassidy has clearly said that there is no intention to deploy the new aircraft in the war in Afghanistan at this time. (ANI)