Predator UAVs have been operational in Bosnia since 1995, where they have flown over 600 missions in support of NATO, UN and US operations. Predators have also been deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. General Atomics is the prime contractor and the main subcontractors include: Versatron/Wescam for the electro-optical Skyball Gimbal; Northrop Grumman for the synthetic aperture radar; L3 Communication for the wideband satellite communications link; and Boeing for the intelligence workstation and mission planning system. .
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. In November 2002 in Yemen, a Predator UAV was used to drop a Hellfire missile which destroyed a civilian vehicle carrying suspected terrorists.
BLOCK 1 UPGRADE PROGRAM.
In May 1998 General Atomics was awarded a Block 1 Upgrade contract to expand the capabilities of the Predator system. System upgrades include development of an improved relief-on-station (ROS) system which allows continuous coverage over areas of interest without any loss of time on station, secure air traffic control voice relay, Ku-band satellite tuning and implementation of an Air Force Mission Support System (AFMSS). The upgrade also covers a more powerful turbocharged engine and wing de-icing systems to enable year-round operations. The upgraded Predator, the RQ-1B, has been operational in the Balkans since April 2001. The Predator B has an operational ceiling of 45,000ft and maximum payload of 750 lb. Predator B has been flight tested with Hellfire II anti-armour missiles and can carry up to 14 missiles. Flight trials have also taken place with the General Atomics Lynx SAR (synthetic aperture radar) payload. Lynx also features ground moving target indicator technology. The USAF has also ordered two versions of Predator B with turbofan jet engines.
What are UAVs? UAVs are mostly known as unmanned air vehicles. ... UAVs were used extensively in the U.S. ... The success rate of a UAV is 99.99%. ... With the United States mentality we would just build more UAVs to intercept any treat UAVs. ...
The satellite technology is held with the dev countries. The satellites are expensive devices and require continuous maintenance. However, UAVs due to their low cost and other obvious advantages have answered countries, which are without satellite technology. 9. Definitions. Unmanned aircraft is...
Not only will the drones decrease the lives lost in military aircrafts and ground control, but will also allow the pilot of the UAV ( unmanned aerial vehicle) be close to home and keep his or her family worry free. ... Drone warfare takes the pilots out of harms way and puts a UAV or unmanned aerial vehicle in the sky to be shot down instead (Weapons, Gear, and Uniforms). Taking a pilot to control the UAV or also known as SWORDS (Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection Systems) from as far as away as possible is only ideal (History of Weapons).If you could protect and defend your ...
Since 20041, in the primarily Pashtun region known as the Federally Administered Tribal Area in Pakistan, the United States has been engaged in an arguably indiscriminate bombing campaign, using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to target individuals, under the guise of weakening terrorist organizations in the area. ... The United States' drone program in Pakistan is not only ineffective, but violates international humanitarian law by wantonly killing civilians and destroying their property, violating the sovereignty of Pakistan, and using UAVs as weapons of terror. ... By sending UAVs int...
UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) as the Predator, or MQ-1, have the ability to glide above targets for up to 40 hours at a time. Recently UAVs are becoming the go-to for the Obama administration, with drone strikes numbering around 500 since 2008. ...
As of today, UAV (unmanned aviation vehicles) are not permitted to fly commercially, except by the military. Amazon is hoping that the FAA changes the laws regarding drones and other UAV's by this upcoming year, 2015 (Gross, [1]). ...
Do you ever feel like you are being watched? You can't shake the feeling that someone or something is watching your every move. Then you think that is impossible because you have been all over town today. But people don't realize that it isn't impossible that someone can follow you all day or even a...
THE ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF ADVANCED MOBILITY AIRCRAFT DESIGN By Jason A. Harvey Research paper for BA422 Life Cycle Analysis for Systems and Programs in Aviation/Aerospace Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Extended Campus Naval Air Station Sigonella December 2001 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 ABSTRACT 3 I. INTRODUCTION ...