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."Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
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.
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. [2]
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
- ↑ "EA-18G Airborne Electronic Attack Aircraft F/A-18G "Growler"", Globalsecurity.com