General Atomics has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to develop a new unmanned aerial vehicle called GHOST. The contract is worth more than $99 million, Defense Express reports, citing TWZ.
A key feature of this drone will be a hybrid-electric power plant. It should provide the drone with not only high efficiency, but also virtually silent operation. This will allow GHOST to fly for up to 60 hours with minimal acoustic and infrared visibility.
Defense Express notes that the development of the drone comes amid the increasing vulnerability of MQ-9 Reaper drones in combat zones. The new stealth platform has the potential to replace outdated UAVs in modern warfare.
Hybrid-electric powertrains generally improve fuel economy and offer other benefits by combining electric motors with traditional fuel-powered engines. Such a system also helps reduce infrared and acoustic signatures, complementing other low-profile drone design elements.
While the technical details of the "ghost drone" remain classified, the GHOST concept is in line with previous General Atomics projects, such as the MQ-Next and Gambit. These developments also aimed to create long-lasting, low-observable and autonomous platforms for reconnaissance and strike.
Contract work is underway in California and is scheduled for completion by August 2028. The US Air Force emphasizes that the new UAV is designed to operate in high-threat airspace.
By the way, Ukraine previously tried to get the MQ-9 Reaper strike drone, but its feasibility is questionable today due to the vulnerability of this platform. If the strike drone can more effectively "hide" from threats, this could return such systems to the battlefield against an enemy with air defense and aviation.