Predator's family affair, The

Model Airplane News, Jan 2003 by Yarrish, Gerry

Earning its keep while prowling the skies over some of the world's most dangerous hot spots, the remotely piloted RQ-1 Predator UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) has become a full-fledged frontline weapon of war! Going online as operational units in 1995, Predators have logged over 22,000 flight hours, more than 8,200 of which have been in combat-- area deployments. Part of this UAV's success can be attributed to its use of commonly available avionics and mechanical systems and its relatively inexpensive (but highly reliable) Rotax 4-cylinder engine. The Predator can remain airborne for 40 hours plus, and it eliminates the need to send a flesh-and-- blood pilot into dangerous territory.

UAV aircraft were first used in the Gulf War more than 10 years ago, and they have more than proved their worth in the world of aerial reconnaissance. With continuing development of the Predator program, these tireless forward scouts have developed into offensive weapons and now have the ability to fire air-to-surface missiles at military targets-and to hit them with amazing accuracy! UAVs are no longer just eyes in the sky.

THE NEXT GENERATION

UAV combat capabilities took a giant step forward recently, when a Predator successfully launched a miniature UAV while in flight over Edwards Air Force Base, CA. This was the first time an operational UAV carried and launched a second, smaller airborne unit! Known as the Flight Inserted Detector Expendable for Reconnaissance (FINDER), these 57-pound baby Predators are stowed on external launch pylons attached to the underside of the Predator's wing. As part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's airborne sensor program, the Naval Research Laboratory-produced FINDER program was designed to evaluate the Predator's capability to carry and launch independently controlled and self-propelled mini-UAVs into hazardous conditions. During these initial tests, the smaller UAVs were released at about 10,000 feet and then executed preprogrammed, 25-minute missions before having to land.

Once they're launched, FINDERs can sample atmospheric conditions and help make environmental assessments by relaying real-time information to ground troops. To extend the FINDER capabilities, the next test phase will include the integration of an Aerospace SMC-manufactured Predator Infrared Narrowband Hyperspectral combat Assessor (PIRANHA) that will detect and identify the presence of various atmospheric compounds. Future plans include demonstrating simultaneous launches of FINDER UAVs from each wing to extend the Predator's post-strike information-gathering range and incorporating other payloads into the FINDER UAVs to diversify their mission profiles.

Operating in numerous combat areas throughout the world, the RQ-1 Predator system continues to meet U.S. military needs. From airborne surveillance and detection to weapons employment, the ever evolving Predator remains a versatile, multi-mission system that routinely proves its broad military usefulness on a daily basis. 4