Beast of Kandahar

[Falstaff]

I guess most of you read about the "Beast of Kandahar", so did I. Since then I'm trying to match this picture of this obviously stealthy UAV, and it makes me terribly mad that I can't.
The wing sweep seems to be rather low, wingspan high compared to its length, which eliminates some of the possible contenders. On the left side of the "center hull" there seems to be a "hump" possibly containing sensor gear. It's location makes me think that it's American, although it doesn't resemble the X-47B IMO. Any ideas?

EDIT: Oh, I forgot: An equally interesting question is, what is this thing doing in Afghanistan. Surely not watching Taliban. But Iran and Pakistan are near. Or just an emergency stop?

 

[Grim901]

Possibly this:

http://www.nogw.com/images/polecat_lockeed_martin.jpg

Or maybe this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corax_(aircraft)

 

[Falstaff]

Possibly this:

http://www.nogw.com/images/polecat_lockeed_martin.jpg

Or maybe this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corax_(aircraft)

I too thought about a Polecat-similar vehicle. As little as the picture reveals (and I couldn't find any others), there is some similarity. Polecat itself has crashed and was never repaired. Besides that it was a technology demonstrator:

From a shaping standpoint the vehicle was configured for down stream enhancement but the original configuration was not “stealthy.” Polecat was an effort to better understand flight dynamics of a tailless air vehicle as well as advanced composite structural design concepts in support of our ongoing research and development work for the Air Force’s future Long Range Strike Program. The all-wing design gave the UAV an aerodynamic advantage by reducing drag.

Corax doesn't look like that at all...

 

[GI-Gizmo]

What is it... ?

I have been wondering what type of aircraft it is ever since the picture
first appeared on the internet back in March. It is definently some sort
of stealthy UCAV. It is probably American and either a secret air force
project or part of the CIA air wing. It is hard to tell the size without anything to compare against in the backround. The detail is also bad so we are left with only an outline to make our guesses. Resembles the X-47 somewhat, for all we know it could be anything though. It looks like a long endurance aircraft, probably medium to high altitude, advanced sensor suite, optical, infared,
laser rangefinder and designator, possibly synthetic aperature radar. Looks like it might have internal weapons bay(s) for possibly a few tons of smart
munitions. Looks to be powered by a single powerplant. Hopefully, whatever it is, our forces are finding it very valuable and it is helping our
troops and hurting the enemy.

 

[Grim901]

I have been wondering what type of aircraft it is ever since the picture
first appeared on the internet back in March. It is definently some sort
of stealthy UCAV. It is probably American and either a secret air force
project or part of the CIA air wing. It is hard to tell the size without anything to compare against in the backround. The detail is also bad so we are left with only an outline to make our guesses. Resembles the X-47 somewhat, for all we know it could be anything though. It looks like a long endurance aircraft, probably medium to high altitude, advanced sensor suite, optical, infared,
laser rangefinder and designator, possibly synthetic aperature radar. Looks like it might have internal weapons bay(s) for possibly a few tons of smart
munitions. Looks to be powered by a single powerplant. Hopefully, whatever it is, our forces are finding it very valuable and it is helping our
troops and hurting the enemy.

I'd really like to know how you deduced all of/ANY of that, from one grainy picture. The first bit about who owns it is alright, the most likely candidate IS the US and those are the 2 branches i'd go for if I had to guess who was flying it, but the rest is entirely speculation.

Don't forget the artists impression at the bottom is based on photos but from an angle not shown in the photo so it may not be entirely accurate. I mentioned Cora because the general shape and design are strikingly similar and there is a working prototype of it in existence. If anything it is slightly more similar than the Polecat. One thing I noticed was that the back of the "beast" is flat apart from a single hump (possible engine outlet) where as the polecat had 2 engine outlets at the back with a flat bit in between. The Corax was however single engined (1 outlet) so only has one hump at the back. And if anyone but the US is going to be flying drones out of Kandahar, it's likely to be the British.

That was just my reasoning.

 

[GI-Gizmo]

I'd really like to know how you deduced all of/ANY of that, from one grainy picture. The first bit about who owns it is alright, the most likely candidate IS the US and those are the 2 branches i'd go for if I had to guess who was flying it, but the rest is entirely speculation.

Don't forget the artists impression at the bottom is based on photos but from an angle not shown in the photo so it may not be entirely accurate. I mentioned Cora because the general shape and design are strikingly similar and there is a working prototype of it in existence. If anything it is slightly more similar than the Polecat. One thing I noticed was that the back of the "beast" is flat apart from a single hump (possible engine outlet) where as the polecat had 2 engine outlets at the back with a flat bit in between. The Corax was however single engined (1 outlet) so only has one hump at the back. And if anyone but the US is going to be flying drones out of Kandahar, it's likely to be the British.

That was just my reasoning.

I was just sharing my uninformed specualtions, I was not trying to make anyone believe I was correct, or even close! The reason I specualted it is a long endurance aircraft is because of the blended wing (B-2 type) design and also because the US has plenty of reliable short to medium range UAVs already. The reason I said it probably had that particular sensor suite is because all US UAVs have most of that gear, a SAR radar would be a nice addition, especially if it is a larger airframe (Global Hawk has SAR).
To me it just looked like a single engine aircraft, even though the photo was horrible quality. Nowadays a single engine can produce enough thrust, there is no reason for two engines, especially with no pilot safety to worry about, and also because with a single jet is easier to hide the infared signature.
All just specualtion obviously.

 

[Grim901]

I was just sharing my uninformed specualtions, I was not trying to make anyone believe I was correct, or even close! The reason I specualted it is a long endurance aircraft is because of the blended wing (B-2 type) design and also because the US has plenty of reliable short to medium range UAVs already. The reason I said it probably had that particular sensor suite is because all US UAVs have most of that gear, a SAR radar would be a nice addition, especially if it is a larger airframe (Global Hawk has SAR).
To me it just looked like a single engine aircraft, even though the photo was horrible quality. Nowadays a single engine can produce enough thrust, there is no reason for two engines, especially with no pilot safety to worry about, and also because with a single jet is easier to hide the infared signature.
All just specualtion obviously.

Sorry I came off a little aggressive. I actually agree with you on all the points that those are the most reasonable deductions.