|
 |
Predator MQ-1
Predator RQ-1 / MQ-1 / MQ-9 Reaper - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), USA
RQ-1 Predator is a long-endurance, medium-altitude unmanned aircraft system for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Surveillance imagery from synthetic aperture radar, video cameras and a Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) can be distributed in real-time both to the front line soldier and to the operational commander, or worldwide in real-time via satellite communication links. MQ-1, armed with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, is the multi-role version which is used for armed reconnaissance and interdiction.
A contract was awarded to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems in January 1994 to execute the Tier II, Medium Altitude Endurance Predator Program. The Predator system first flew in 1994 and entered production in August 1997.
"RQ-1 / MQ-1 / MQ-9 Predator is a long endurance, medium altitude unmanned aircraft system for surveillance and reconnaissance missions."
Predators are currently in production for the US Air Force and are operational with the USAF 11th and 15th Reconnaissance Squadrons. Over 125 Predators have been delivered to the USAF. 36 additional MQ-1B Predators (with Hellfire missile installation kits) were ordered in September 2007. Six Predator UAVs are in service with the Italian Air Force. Italian company Meteor was responsible for assembly of five of the six. The Italian system was deployed to Iraq in January 2005.
Predator UAV's have been operational in Bosnia since 1995 in support of NATO, UN and US operations and as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying over 300,000 flight hours on over 25,000 flights. The MQ-1 Predator achieved Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in February 2005.
General Atomics is the prime contractor and the main subcontractors include: Versatron / Wescam for the electro-optical Skyball Gimbal; Northrop Grumman for the synthetic aperture radar; L3 Communication for the wideband satellite communications link; and Boeing for the intelligence workstation and mission planning system.
In February 2001, the Hellfire-C laser-guided missile was successfully fired from a Predator air vehicle in flight tests at Nellis air force base, Nevada. In November 2002 in Yemen, a Predator UAV was used to drop a Hellfire missile which destroyed a civilian vehicle carrying suspected terrorists. A Northrop Grumman Bat submunition was successfully dropped and a FINDER mini-UAV launched from a Predator UAV in August 2002.
MQ-9 REAPER HUNTER / KILLER
In May 1998 General Atomics was awarded a Block 1 Upgrade contract to expand the capabilities of the Predator system. System upgrades include development of an improved Relief-On-Station (ROS) system which allows continuous coverage over areas of interest without any loss of time on station, secure air traffic control voice relay, Ku-band satellite tuning and implementation of an Air Force Mission Support System (AFMSS).
The upgrade also covers a more powerful turbocharged engine and wing de-icing systems to enable year-round operations. The upgraded Predator, the Predator B, has been operational in the Balkans since April 2001. In March 2005, the USAF awarded a further contract for the System Design and Development (SDD) of MQ-9 Reaper Hunter / Killer. 21 MQ-9 have been ordered and eight delivered to the USAF.
The first USAF MQ-9 squadron, the 42nd Attack Squadron, was formed in March 2007. It is based at Creech AFB in Nevada. A decision on full-rate production of the MQ-9 is expected in 2009.
The USAF first deployed the MQ-9 Reaper to Afghanistan in October 2007, where it is being used for precision strikes.
The MQ-9 Reaper has an operational ceiling of 50,000ft, a maximum internal payload of 800lb and external payload over 3,000lb. It can carry up to four Hellfire II anti-armour missiles and two laser-guided bombs (GBU-12 or EGBU-12) and 500lb GBU-38 JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition).
The MQ-9 sensor payload can include the General Atomics Lynx SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar). Lynx also features ground moving target indicator technology. The Predator is to be flight tested with a L-3 Communications Tactical Common Datalink (TCDL).
The USAF has also ordered two versions of Predator B with turbofan jet engines, to be known as Predator C. First flight of the Predator C is expected in 2009.
"The Predator B has an operational ceiling of 50,000ft."
In August 2005, a version of Predator B, called Warrior, was chosen for the four-year System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase of the US Army’s Extended Range / Multi-Purpose (ER/MP) UAV program. 11 Warrior systems, each with 12 air vehicles, and five ground control stations. Initial operating capability is planned for 2009.
Also in August 2005, the US Department of Homeland Security / Customs and Border Protection (DHS/CBP) ordered two Predator B systems for monitoring of the USA's south-west border. The first was delivered in late 2005, the second in September 2006. Two further systems were ordered in October 2006, for monitoring operations on the border with Canada.
In September 2006, the UK requested the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of two MQ-9 Reaper systems with Lynx SAR, multi-spectral targeting systems and one ground station. Deliveries began in mid-2007 and the RAF deployed the system in Afghanistan in November 2007. In January 2008, the UK requested the sale of an additional ten MQ-9 systems.
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
A typical Predator system configuration would include four aircraft, one ground control system and one Trojan Spirit II data distribution terminal. The Predator air vehicle is 27ft in length and has a 49ft wingspan. The system operates at an altitude of 25,000ft and at a range of 400nm.
The endurance of the air vehicle is more than 40 hours and the cruise speed is over 70kt. The air vehicle is equipped with UHF and VHF radio relay links, a C-band line-of-sight data link which has a range of 150nm and UHF and Ku-band satellite data links.
PAYLOAD
The surveillance and reconnaissance payload capacity is 450lb and the vehicle carries electro-optical and infrared cameras and a synthetic aperture radar. The two-colour DLTV television is equipped with a variable zoom and 955mm Spotter. The high resolution FLIR has six fields of view, 19mm to 560mm.
The Raytheon Multi-spectral Targeting System (MTS-A) is fitted on the MQ-1/9 Predator. The MTS-A provides real-time imagery selectable between infrared and day TV as well as a laser designation capability. MQ-1 can employ two laser-guided Hellfire anti-armour missiles with the MTS.
The Northrop Grumman TESAR synthetic aperture radar is fitted on the MQ-1 and provides all-weather surveillance capability, has a resolution of 1ft. Other payload options, which can be selected to meet mission requirements, include a laser designator and rangefinder, electronic support and countermeasures and a Moving Target Indicator (MTI).
The USAF plans to equip a number of MQ-1 and MQ-9 Predators with a version of the Northrop Grumman Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload (ASIP) from 2010. ASIP is being tested on the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft and will also be fitted on the RQ-4 Global Hawk.
GROUND STATION
The UAV ground control station is built into a single 30ft trailer, containing pilot and payload operator consoles, three Boeing data exploitation and mission planning consoles and two synthetic aperture radar workstations together with satellite and line-of-sight ground data terminals.
The ground control station can send imagery data via a landline to the operational users or to the Trojan Spirit data distribution system which is equipped with a 5.5m dish for Ku-band ground data terminal and a 2.4m dish for data dissemination.
OPERATION
Predator follows a conventional launch sequence from a semi-prepared surface under direct line-of-sight control. The take-off and landing length is typically 2,000ft. The mission can be controlled through line-of-site data links or through Ku-band satellite links to produce continuous video.
Video signals received in the ground control station are passed to the Trojan Spirit van for worldwide intelligence distribution or directly to operational users via a commercial global broadcast system. Command users are able to task the payload operator in real-time for images or video on demand. (Source US Air Force)
GA-ASI’s Predator A UAS Series Achieves 300,000 Flight Hours: Combat-Proven Predator A Series Also Marks 25,000th Mission.
SAN DIEGO – 30 August 2007 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical reconnaissance radars, today announced that its flagship Predator® A UAS series has surpassed the 300,000 flight hour milestone, with over 80 percent of that time spent in combat. The milestone was achieved by P-137 on August 12 while it performed an armed reconnaissance mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). This particular aircraft has flown over 145 combat missions in the year and a half it has been deployed.
“Predator A series aircraft have doubled their monthly flight hours in just 12 months while supporting our troops in combat,” said Thomas J. Cassidy, Jr., president, Aircraft Systems Group, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. “Their 300,000 flight hours to date are testimony to Predator A’s impressive operational performance and reliability flying daily combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact, the Predator A series flew over 100,000 flight hours last year alone, far surpassing usage rates of prior years. Currently flying some 10,000 hours per month, Predator A continues to be the most combat-proven UAS ever produced, providing persistent armed reconnaissance and battlefield support to ground forces in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other world trouble spots, which it has been doing since 1995.”
Just a few days before achieving the 300,000 flight hour record, the Predator A UAS series also marked another significant milestone, the completion of its 25,000th flight. This was achieved by P-144 on August 8, also while in support of OIF.
A growth evolution of the proven GNAT® system, Predator A performs over-the-horizon, long-endurance, medium-altitude surveillance, reconnaissance, and weapons delivery and has an endurance of 40 hours. Featuring common avionics and mechanical systems, Predator A is equipped with a satellite data link system; an Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR)-stabilized gimbal containing color and infrared video cameras, plus laser designation, laser spotting, and laser range-finding capabilities; as well as laser-guided Hellfire missiles. A Lynx® Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is also deployed and operational on some Predator A series aircraft. Predator As are currently operational with the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Italian Air Force, and the U.S. Army (I-GNAT ER/Sky Warrior® Alpha).
The entire Predator UAS family totals well over 250 aircraft and includes I-GNAT, Predator A, I-GNAT ER/Sky Warrior Alpha, Predator B, and Sky Warrior, among other aircraft. Additional customers include the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, NASA, the Turkish Army, and soon the Royal Air Force.
Source: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
| Variant | ||
| Wingspan | 49ft | |
| Length | 27ft | |
| Height | ||
| Speed | ||
| Ceiling | ||
| Weight | ||
| Thrust | ||
| Powerplant | ||
| Crew | ||
| In Service with | ||
| Manufacturer | General Atomics Aero Sys |