General Atomics MQ-1 Predator (Predator A)

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) / ISR Drone

United States | 1995

"The General Atomics MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle has found success as an unarmed reconnaissance platform and as a missile-armed hunter."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/24/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

At a cost of about $40 million dollars per system, the RQ-1/MQ-1 Predator is a pricey yet integral part of US Air Force operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Operating by remote control, the Predator can cover a section of territory with excellent loitering endurance and not expose friendly aircrew to enemy fire or capture. As it stands, the US Air Force currently maintains some 97 General Atomics-produced Predators in its inventory and utilizes the system in both the reconnaissance and armed reconnaissance roles. The Predator began service as the RQ-1, indicating her strictly unarmed reconnaissance role. The designation of MQ-1 was appended in 2002 to indicate her new modified form for the armed reconnaissance role.

The Predator operates remotely under the supervision of three Air Force personnel - one pilot and two sensor operators - though a full team complement consists of 55 personnel. The system is fed input via ground equipment and a satellite-ready component known as the Predator Primary Satellite Link. Four Predator aircraft units make up one full Predator group while transportation of Predators is by C-130 Hercules. If operating from a runway in the traditional aircraft sense, the Predator requires very little surface area to land on and take-off from and landing itself is accomplished with a retractable tricycle landing gear system.

Flying the Predator is accomplished through a forward-mounted color camera which feeds real time information to the pilot controlling the unit via joystick while situated in the Ground Control Station. Additional infra-red and TV cameras are also fitted into the fuselage and can provide real-time and still image reconnaissance service. In the armed reconnaissance role, the Predator is seen fitted with two AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles - a munition more commonly associated with the AH-64 Apache combat helicopter - mounted under each wing and can be called on to engage ground-based vehicles through laser-guidance acquisition and targeting. In this mode, the Predator utilizes a powerful built-in laser illuminator / laser designator system with infra-red capability. Powered flight is attained from a single turbocharged Rotax 115 horsepower engine driving a rear-mounted propeller.

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In terms of performance, the MQ-1 can reach ceilings of up to 25,000 feet with a range of 454 miles at speeds of 135 miles per hour (though normal cruise speed is reported to be about 84 miles per hour). Wingspan for the unmanned craft measures in at nearly 49 feet and entire system unloaded weighs about 1,100 pounds - two facets that are hardly discernable through aerial images alone. As such, the Predator aircraft is not a smallish aircraft by any sense.

Incidentally, the Predator initially received the designation of RQ-1 with "R" indicating its reconnaissance role and "1" indicating the initial system series of purposely-built unmanned aircraft. "Q" is a designation meaning that this aircraft is unmanned. Since 2002, the system took on the more familiar MQ-1 designation to indicate the addition of an armed reconnaissance duty. The Predator currently appears with three Air Force reconnaissance squadrons.

The "Predator XP" variant is a reduced-capability variant of the Predator UAV for the export market available to nations in good standing with the United States. All armament features have been removed from these models in an effort to broaden its market appeal. The United Arab Emirates became the first customer of the product when, in February of 2013, a procurement order was officially announced.

Base production Predators (not XP models) are already operated in limited numbers by Italy, Morocco and Turkey.

Over 360 Predator units have been built to date.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator (Predator A) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) / ISR Drone.

1 x Rotax 914F 4-cylinder engine developing 115 horsepower driving a two-bladed propeller unit in pusher configuration.
Propulsion

135 mph
217 kph | 117 kts
Max Speed

25,000 ft
7,620 m | 5 miles
Service Ceiling

454 miles
730 km | 394 nm
Operational Range

City-to-City Ranges
Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator (Predator A) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) / ISR Drone.

0
(UNMANNED)
Crew

27.0 ft
8.22 m
O/A Length

48.6 ft
(14.80 m)
O/A Width

6.9 ft
(2.10 m)
O/A Height

1,129 lb
(512 kg)
Empty Weight

2,249 lb
(1,020 kg)
MTOW

Design Balance
The three qualities reflected below are altitude, speed, and range. The more full the box, the more balanced the design.

RANGE

ALT

SPEED

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator (Predator A) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) / ISR Drone .

OPTIONAL:
2 x AGM-114 Hellfire laser-guided anti-tank missiles OR 2 x AIM-92 Stinger short-ranged anti-aircraft missile.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator (Predator A) family line.

RQ-1 - Initial Series Designation indicating primary reconnaissance role.

RQ-1A - Preproduction designation of complete Predator UAV system (including ground control stations).

RQ-1K - Preproduction designation of Predator airframes.

RQ-1B - Production designation of complete Predator UAV system (including ground control ststations).

RQ-1L - Production designation of Predator airframes.

MQ-1 - Redesignation in 2002 indicating addition of armed reconnaissance role.

MQ-1A - Provision for AGM-114 Hellfire or AIM-92 Stinger missiles; sans aperture radar functionality.

MQ-1B - Revised antenna; fuselage spine VHF protrusion; dorsal and ventral intakes.

MQ-1B Block 10/15 - Modernized avionics suite and communications control; revised tail unit.

MQ-1C "Grey Eagle" - Upgraded Predator currently (2013) under development.

Predator XP - Export Variant; sans all weapon capabilities.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator (Predator A). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 365 Units
Contractor(s): General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Incorporated - USA

National flag of the United Arab Emirates

[ Italy; Morocco; Turkey; United Arab Emirates; United States ]

Relative Max Speed

Hi: 150mph

Lo: 75mph

Aircraft Max Listed Speed (135mph).

Graph Average of 113 MPH.

Era Crossover

Showcasing Aircraft Era Crossover (if any)

Max Alt Visualization

Production Comparison

365

36183

44000

Entry compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian) total production.

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

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Aviation Timeline

EarlyYrs

WWI

Interwar

WWII

ColdWar

Postwar

Modern

Future

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