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General Atomics MQ-1 Predator (Predator A)

1995 MODERN AIRCRAFT DRONE TECHNOLOGY

History

The RQ-1/MQ-1 Predator costs about $40 million per system and is an expensive but essential component of the U.S. Air Force's operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Remote Control Predator can cover part of the territory with excellent loitering stamina and will not expose friendly aircrews to enemy fire or captivity. Currently, the U.S.

Air Force maintains about 97 General Atomics-built Predators in its inventory and uses the system for reconnaissance and armed reconnaissance. The Predator began service as the RQ-1, indicating a completely unarmed reconnaissance role.

The MQ-1 designation was added in 2002 to indicate its new modification for armed reconnaissance.

The Predator was operated remotely under the supervision of three Air Force personnel (one pilot and two sensor operators), although a full team consisted of 55 personnel. The system receives input from ground equipment and a satellite assembly called the Predator Master Satellite Link.

Four Predator aircraft units make up a full Predator team, and the Predator is transported by C-130 Hercules. Operating on a runway in the traditional aircraft sense, the Predator requires a very small area for landing and takeoff, and the landing itself is accomplished with a retractable tricycle landing gear system.

The flight of the Predator is accomplished by a front-facing color camera, which provides real-time information to the pilot, who controls the device via a joystick at the ground control station. Additional infrared and TV cameras are also built into the hull to provide live and still image reconnaissance services.

For armed reconnaissance missions, the Predator is armed with two AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles -- a type of munition more commonly found in AH-64 Apache attack helicopters -- mounted under each wing and can be guided by a laser acquisition and target acquisition. In this mode, the Predator uses a powerful integrated laser illumination/marking system with infrared capabilities.

Powered flight is achieved by a single-turbocharged 115-horsepower Rotax engine driving a rear-mounted propeller.

In terms of performance, the MQ-1 can reach altitudes of up to 25,000 feet at 135 mph and has a range of 454 miles (though normal cruise speed is around 84 mph). The drone has a wingspan of nearly 49 feet, and the entire system has an empty weight of about 1,100 pounds two aspects that are hard to tell from aerial imagery alone.

So the Predator is by no means a small aircraft.

By the way, the Predator was originally designated RQ-1, "R" for its reconnaissance role, and "1" for the initial system family of specialized UAVs. "Q" is a name that means the plane is unmanned. Since 2002, the system has adopted the more familiar name MQ-1 to indicate the addition of armed reconnaissance services.

The Predator currently serves with three Air Force reconnaissance squadrons.

The "Predator XP" variant is a limited-capability variant of the Predator drone intended for the export market and available in reputable countries in the United States. To increase market appeal, all weapon features in these models have been removed.

When the purchase order was officially announced in February 2013, the United Arab Emirates became the first customer for the product.

Italy, Morocco and Turkey already produce Predators on a limited-quantity basis (no XP models).

To date, over 360 Predator units have been built.