Research and development country: United States
Type: Predator
Research and development unit: General Atomics (General Atomics)
Build cost: about 4.5 million U.S. dollars
Situation: Active
Overview:
One: Overview:
The Predator is a medium- to medium-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that was developed as an "advanced proof-of-concept". Developed from January 1994 through June 1996 as an "Advanced Technology Proof of Concept". It received its first contract with General Atomics of San Diego, Calif. It first flew in 1994 and became operationally capable that year.
The Predator's TPE-331 engine
II. Performance Indicators:
Length 320.4 inches Wingspan 580.8 inches Height 72 inches
Frequency C-band
Fuel Capacity 110 liters Maximum Endurance 40 hours Lift 26,000 feet Stall Speed 54 knots Cruise Speed 70 -90 knots Take-off weight 2100 lbs
III. Structural features:
The Predator can be easily loaded in a shipping crate for long distance transport
IV. Weapon control and electronic systems:
A typical "A typical Predator system consists of four drones, a ground control system and a Trojan Spirit II data distribution system. The drones themselves have a range of up to 40 hours and a cruising speed of 126 kilometers per hour. The aircraft itself is equipped with UHF and VHF radios, as well as a C-band line-of-sight data link with a range of 270 km. The onboard payload for surveillance and reconnaissance is 204 kg. The two-color DLTV optical camera on board has a 955mm zoom lens. A high-resolution forward-looking infrared system with six adjustable focal lengths, ranging from 19mm to 560mm, and a Northrop 6.1 Grumman synthetic aperture radar (SAR) provide the Predator with an all-weather surveillance capability with a resolution of 0.3 meters. Other optional payloads, which can be tailored to specific missions, include a laser indication and ranging device, an electronic countermeasures device and a moving target indicator.
Optical Turret
The ground control station is housed in a 10-meter-long, self-contained trailer and contains seats and consoles for remotely operated pilots, surveillance reconnaissance operators, three Boeing mission-planning development consoles, two synthetic aperture radar (SAR) consoles, as well as satellite communications, and line-of-sight communications data terminals.
The ground stations can send imagery to operators via ground lines or the Spirit of Troy data distribution system. "The Spirit of Troy uses a 5.5-meter Ku-band ground data terminal dish antenna and a 2.4-meter data distribution dish antenna. The picture on the right shows the operator's console. The upper monitor displays course and other information, while the lower monitor outputs the Predator camera image.
The mobile control system allows front-line commanders to control and receive reconnaissance information directly. Another configuration is to use the U.S. Army's high-mobility vehicles (large jeeps) to carry a small ground station, basically the same function as the base-type ground station.
Smaller video receiving systems can be carried by smaller units, such as Special Forces behind enemy lines, to receive reconnaissance information
V. Analysis of technical features and comments:
The Predator UAV can take off and lift off from roughly prepared ground, with the takeoff process being controlled by a remote pilot. within-visual-range control by a remote pilot. Typical takeoff and landing distances are about 667 meters. Mission control information, as well as reconnaissance imagery, is transmitted by Ku-band satellite datalinks. Once the image signals reach the ground station, they can be relayed to command authorities around the world or sent directly to command users via a commercial standard global broadcast system. Commanders can then control the Predator in real time for photographic and video image reconnaissance.
VI. Equipment and model evolution:
The Air Force currently has 60 Predators, and he said it would buy more if funding became available.
In March 2002, the U.S. Air Force formally established its first squadron of armed Predator drones. The unit, which is planned to have 20 armed Predators, will be based at the alternate airfield at Indiana-6-1 Spring, Nevada, along with the 11th and 15th Reconnaissance Squadrons, and will reach full operational capability in 2005. Personnel for the new unit will be drawn from the two existing squadrons, as well as training some of the new members.
The U.S. Air Force purchased 25 aircraft for $139 million in fiscal 2003 and 16 Predators for $210 million in fiscal 2004. Beginning Oct. 1, 2005, the Air Force will take delivery of nine Predators, valued at $147 million.
In May 1998, the Predator system began a Block 1 upgrade program. Improvements included a system to relieve the system of work so that reconnaissance information is not lost within the system, providing classified air traffic control voice relay, Ku-band satellite tuning and an Air Force mission support system.
In March 2001 Predator-B UAV 001 made its maiden flight. The program consists of three aircraft with different configurations. "The Predator B001 is equipped with a General Electric TPE-331-10T turboprop engine, has a takeoff weight of 2,900 kilograms, is capable of carrying a load of 340 kilograms, and cruises at an altitude of 15,200 meters at a speed of 370 kilometers per hour. The Predator B002, currently under construction, will be powered by a Williams FJ44-2A turbojet engine and will be able to fly at an altitude of about 18,300 meters at a speed of 500 km/h. Flight tests were conducted in the fall of 2001. "The final aircraft in the Predator B series, the ALTAIR, will be used for scientific and commercial purposes, requiring a large load capacity and a ceiling of 15,850 m. The ALTAIR will be equipped with a General Electric turboprop engine. ALTAIR will be equipped with a General Electric turboprop engine and will be able to perform a variety of atmospheric research missions simultaneously and send the data collected via satellite in real time. in november 2001, the us Air Force ordered two Predator Bs. Due to the change of engines, the purchase price of the Bs was higher than that of the base model, and the maintenance equipment was different, but the ground station was the same. the US military has been comparing the Predator Bs to the Predator Bs, but the purchase price is not the same. After comparing the Predator B and the Global Hawk, the U.S. Army finally chose the Predator B. The Predator B cost less than the base model. "Predator B. Predator B costs between $2.5 million and $4.5 million per unit, while Global Hawk costs between $45 million and $50 million per unit. "The Predator B is capable of carrying eight Hellfire anti-tank missiles, compared to two in the base model, and can operate between 45,000 and 52,000 meters, about twice as fast as the base model. It can fly three times as fast.
The next step in the program is a test launch of the FIM-92 Stinger close-in surface-to-air missile. General Atomics recently received a $3,900 follow-on contract to produce seven more Predators for the Air Force. A contract for an additional seven is still being proposed. Also underway are tests of "transmitting imagery from a drone to a fighter jet." The exercise utilized a Predator UAV equipped with UHF and VHF radios to relay communications and transmit real-time video images from the ground to British and American combat aircraft.
In October 2004, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced that an HFE-fueled Predator UAV had successfully made its maiden flight, and that the Warrior, which the company was developing specifically to bid on the Army's Extended Range Multi-Purpose (ERMP) unmanned aircraft system program, had successfully completed its first flight. The Warrior UAV provides a solid foundation for the company's Warrior UAV, which was developed specifically to compete for the Army's Extended Range Multi-Purpose (ERMP) UAS program. The Warrior UAV, which the company intends to supply to the Army, is a long-endurance unmanned combat aircraft based on the Predator UAV, with a powerplant using the type of fuel commonly used by the Army. The HFE powerplant reduces maintenance costs and increases service life, according to company officials.
VII. COMBAT USE:
The Predator has been seen uninterruptedly in Europe and Southeast Asia since it began entering service.
VIII. Operational performance:
The Predator participated in peacekeeping in Bosnia in 1996.
In Kosovo, the Predator flew more than 50 sorties.
In September 2001, Iraq claimed to have shot down a Predator. "Predators were also involved in the Afghans, and one Predator reportedly spotted Osama's car but lost the target due to delays in decision-making by ground commanders. A month later, a Predator managed to send back a live video feed of the hideout of a senior officer under bin Laden, and multiple F-15Es subsequently bombed the area, killing the officer. In October 2001, the Predator fired its first missile in combat, destroying a Taliban tank.
In March 2003, the Predator began carrying two AGM-114K Khalifa II laser-guided anti-tank missiles on a mission to destroy Iraq's ZSU-23-4 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.