MQ-1 Predator
According to its operator, the United States Air Force, the MQ-1 Predator is a system of MQ-1 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), a ground control station and remote control communiations, and operating crew and support personnel; the RQ-1 designation refers to the entire system.[1]Formally, the MQ-1 Predator is a medium-altitude, long-endurance, remotely piloted UAV now optimized for armed reconnaissance. Its secondary mission is as a "Joint Forces Air Component Commander-owned theater asset for reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition in support of the Joint Forces commander."[2]
Operations
One pilot and two sensor operators control the Predator, from workstations inside the ground station, using a line-of-sight or satellite command link. The UAV can take off and land on a 5,000 by 75 feet (1,524 meters by 23 meters), hard surface runway with clear line-of-sight.
In 1996, the Predator was used to provide imagery in Bosnia; the Global Broadcast Service satellite system was introduced to distribute the video.
Armed Predators have been used in combat, beginning on 5 November 2002. A Predator-launched Hellfire struck a car in Yemen, containing Al-Qaeda members. The Predator was under the control of a Central Intelligence Agency crew.[3]
Sensors
The aircraft is equipped with a color nose camera (generally used by the pilot for flight control), a day variable-aperture TV camera, a variable-aperture infrared camera (for low light/night), and a synthetic aperture radarfor looking through smoke, clouds or haze. The cameras produce full motion video while the SAR produces still frame radar images.
A Northrop-Grumman ASIP-1C signals intelligence package now flown on the U-2 manned reconnaissance aircraft is being integrated with the Predator, as well as the MQ-9 Reaper. This package is optimized to intercept lower-frequency communications, such as mobile telephones. It is also carried by the MQ-4 Global Hawk long-range UAV and the RC-12 GUARDRAIL manned surveillance aircraft. [4]
Weapons
The MQ-1 Predator carries the Multi-spectral Targeting Syste (MTS) for the AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missile targeting capability and integrates electro-optical, infrared, laser designator and laser illuminator into a single sensor package. The Predator can carry two Hellfire missiles.
An electronic warfare variant is planned. [5]
Specifications
According to the U.S. Air Force,
- Primary Function: Armed reconnaissance, airborne surveillance and target acquisition
- Contractor: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Incorporated
- Power Plant: Rotax 914F four cylinder engine
- Thrust: 115 horsepower
- Wingspan: 48.7 feet (14.8 meters)
- Length: 27 feet (8.22 meters)
- Height: 6.9 feet (2.1 meters)
- Weight: 1,130 pounds ( 512 kilograms) empty
- Maximum Takeoff weight: 2,250 pounds (1,020 kilograms)
- Fuel Capacity: 665 pounds (100 gallons)
- Payload: 450 pounds (204 kilograms)
- Speed: Cruise speed around 84 mph (70 knots), up to 135 mph
- Range: up to 400 nautical miles (454 miles)
- Ceiling: up to 25,000 feet (7,620 meters)
- Armament: two laser-guided AGM-114 Hellfire missiles
- Crew (remote): Two (pilot and sensor operator)
- Initial operational capability: March 2005
Unit Cost: $40 million (fiscal 1997 dollars) (includes 4 aircraft, ground control stations, and Predator Primary Satellite Link) Inventory: Active force, 102; ANG, 0; Reserve, 0
References
- ↑ Parsch, Andeas, "General Atomics RQ/MQ-1 Predator", DesignationSystems.net
- ↑ United States Air Force, "MQ-1 Predator fact sheet", Air Force Link
- ↑ Jeffrey Addicott (7 November 2002), The Yemen Attack: Illegal Assassination or Lawful Killing?
- ↑ Stephen Trimble (April 25, 2008), "Predator, Reaper to add electronic warfare payload", Flight International
- ↑ "EA-18G Airborne Electronic Attack Aircraft F/A-18G "Growler"", Globalsecurity.com