Ausaine Q10M Gannet
| Ausaine Q10M Gannet | |
|---|---|
| |
| A Q10M carrying COSAC antiship missiles during evaluations in the Great Barrier Sea, 2024. | |
| Role | Tiltrotor multirole aircraft |
| National origin |  Meridon
|
| Manufacturer | Ausaine Aerospace |
| First flight | 16 April 2023 |
| Status | Evaluations |
| Primary user | File:MNFlag Meridonian Navy |
| Produced | 2023-present |
| Number built | Unknown |
| Unit cost |
Aproximately $46.4 million MD
|
The Ausaine Q10M Gannet is a Meridonian unmanned, tiltrotor multirole combat support aircraft developed by Ausaine Aerospace as a response to naval requirements for a more capable unmanned platform to replace the 'stop-gap' Q7M Skua which has seen limited operational service. Developed using knowhow from both the Iolani and the Adjutant aircraft, the Q10M is designed to offer a variety of capabilities to the Meridonian Navy, and has seen interest from the Army as well.
The Gannet is designed to operate from ships, including those as small as Serenity-class cutters and Bell-class frigates; and austere locations such as FARPs or forward operating bases, and to conduct a wide variety of operations ranging from reconnaissance and intelligence, resupply and sling-loading operations; and combat operations from close air support to anti-submarine and anti-shipping warfare. It is capable of aerial reufeling, including providing fuel to other manned and unmanned aircraft.
Development
Design
Operational History
Variants
Operators
Current Operators
- Meridon- Unknown number, but in service trials with the Navy.
Former Operators
Specifications (F9M)
General Characteristics
- Crew: None
- Length: 38ft (11.6m)
- Wingspan: 65ft (19.8m)
- Height: 15 ft 6 in (4.7m)
- Wing Area: 120.4 sq ft (11.2 sq m)
- Empty Weight: 14,500lb (6,577 kg)
- Max Takeoff Weight: 28,000lb (12,700 kg)
- Powerplant: 1x Regnault-Dawson TMA-82 turboshaft, producing 5,800 shp (4,325.06 kW)
- Rotor diameter: 2x 31ft (9.4m)
- Main rotor area: 1,509.5 sq ft (140.2 sq m)
- Fuel: 10,500
Performance
- Maximum Speed: 330 knots at altitude
- Service Ceiling: 30,000 ft (9,144 meters)
- Rate of Climb: 3,600 ft/min plus (18.3 m/s)
- Thrust/Weight: 0.85 at maximum gross weight
- Endurance: 7 hours on internal fuel
- Range: 1,450 nmi (2685 km)
Armament
- Payload: Internal payload capacity of 2,000lb, options for 4x wing and 2x fuselage hardpoints, capacity of 17,000lb
- 3x centerline internal mission bay slots
- 2x fuselage hardpoints (optional)
- 4x optional (2x per wing) hardpoints)
Avionics
- AI-20D forward looking infrared
- AE-161D radar warning reciever
- AW-160B synthetic aperture surface search radar
- AE-220 electronic signals exploitation gear
- Various additional payloads per missions package
