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RQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Overview
RQ-1A Predator is a long endurance, medium altitude unmanned aircraft system for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. True surveillance of an area is possible based on the mission endurance of the aircraft and sensor suite. Surveillance imagery is acquired through a combination of the synthetic aperture radar, video cameras and or a forward looking infra-red (FLIR), and can be distributed in real time to the front line soldier, the operational commander, and worldwide in real time via satellite communication links. Reconnaissance and target acquisition imagery is near real time, affording the capability to accurately engage a target from the time of acquisition.

The Predator air vehicle is 27 ft in length and has a 49 ft wingspan. The system operates at an altitude of 25,000 ft and at a range of 400 nautical miles. The mission endurance of the Predator is approximately 40 hours, with a cruise speed is over 70 knots.

Development History
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. Predators are currently in production for the US Air Force and are operational with USAF worldwide.

Predator UAV's were used in Bosnia, where they have flown over 600 missions in support of NATO, UN and US operations, and are now deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. 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, and is an active capability on Predators deployed in Afghanistan.

In May 1998 General Atomics was awarded an a contract to expand the capabilities of the Predator system. The upgraded Predator, the RQ-1B, has been operational in the Balkans since April 2001. It has an operational ceiling of 45,000ft and maximum payload of 750 lb., and has been flight tested with Hellfire II anti-armour missiles. Flight trials included the General Atomics Lynx SAR (synthetic aperture radar) payload. A Northrop Grumman Bat submunition was successfully dropped and a FINDER mini-UAV launched from a Predator UAV in August 2002.

Unit Configuration & Operations
A typical Predator system configuration would include four aircraft, one ground control system and one Trojan Spirit II data distribution terminal. It is equipped with UHF and VHF radio relay links, a C-band line-of-sight data link and UHF and Ku-band satellite data links.

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.

Payload & Sensors
The surveillance and reconnaissance payload capacity is 450 lbs and the vehicle carries electro-optical and infrared cameras and a synthetic aperture radar. The Daylight TV sensor is equipped with a variable zoom and an auto-track feature. The high resolution FLIR has multiple fields of view, 19 to 560mm, and also has operator selectable auto-track of acquired targets.
Raytheon has delivered three Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems (MTS) to USAF for integration on Predator. The MTS provides real-time imagery selectable between infrared and day TV, and has a laser designation capability.

The Northrop Grumman TESAR synthetic aperture radar provides all-weather surveillance capability, with a resolution of 1ft. Other payload options, which can be selected to meet mission requirements.

Ground Station
The UAV Ground Control Station is built into a single 30 ft 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 LOS (line of sight) ground data terminals. The Ground Control Station can send imagery to users via various means.