The general atomics mq1 predator is an american remotely piloted aircraft rpa built by. In addition, usi has designed, built, and certified our own small uas for flight training, research and development, and market survey tasks. Predator software is an industry leader in industry 4. It can serve in a reconnaissance role and fire two agm114 hellfire missiles.
Fast forward six months later and the armed predator, eventually dubbed the mq1, fired its first. Feb 02, 2012 courtesy video 99th air base wing public affairs mq 1 predator and mq 9 reaper unmanned aircraft participate in training operations at creech air force base, nev. Mar 09, 2018 usaf officially retires mq 1 predator while mq 9 reaper set to gain airtoair missiles the reaper is set to gain new capabilities just as its iconic progenitor is pulled from service, but arming. Based on the mq 1 predator, the general atomics mq 1c gray eagle was developed for the u. Mq1 predator mq9 reaper uav operations 2011 youtube. The usaf accepted the final mq1 predator aircraft in march 2011 and the aircraft was retired from the usafs service in march 2018. A high end aircraft which is controlled by the crew on the ground is capable of dropping bombs, making aerial survey and reconnaissance and other support roles. Military commanders use tactics and strategy in combat to inflict as much damage on the enemy while trying to risk as few personnel and resources as possible. Reaper drone shot down over yemen popular mechanics. Additionally, when upgraded with advanced threat sensing gear and software, including. The mq 1 predator is an unmanned aerial vehicle for reconnaissance role.
The reaper is mainly used as an attack uav hunter killer and thus carries significantly more ordnance see armament info below. The mq 9b is being built from the ground up to meet global airworthiness standards. The predator, a drone that transformed military combat national. An mq1 predator unmanned aerial vehicle and f16 fighting falcon return from an operation iraqi freedom combat mission. The contractor will provide depot repair, lifecycle sustainment and software maintenance services for italys mq 9a fleet. It includes hundreds of features to improve the day to day productivity of cnc machine tools, yet it is extremely easy to use. The mq1b predator is an armed, multimission, mediumaltitude, longendurance remotely piloted aircraft that is employed primarily as an intelligencecollection asset and secondarily against. The predator cnc editor is the most popular 32bit cnc code editor available on the market.
The reapers combat potential and demonstrated combat performance fueled the rapid growth of the program. Since 1994, predator software focuses on automating manufacturers worldwide with innovative and awardwinning software applications. Information about the mq1b predator, mq1c gray eagle and mq9 reaper uavs. Air force and royal air force customers, the turboproppowered, multimission predator b remotely piloted aircraft rpa was developed with gaasi funding and provides significantly greater capabilities than predator. Predator b rpa general atomics aeronautical systems inc. The mq 9 reaper drone is the original mq 1 predator s bigger, more lethal brother. The main difference between the mq 1 predator and mq 9 reaper is the size, mission, payload, speed and range see specs at the end of this page. The us air force mq 1 predator is slated for retirement on july 1, 2017.
Predator software dnc, mdc, oee, pdm, rcm, virtual cnc. General atomics mq1 predator predator a unmanned aerial. The mq 9 reaper previously predator b is a mediumtohigh altitude, long endurance remotely piloted aircraft system. Asi, a leading manufacturer of remotely piloted aircraft rpa systems, radars, and electrooptic and related mission systems solutions, today announced that the italian air force itaf has accepted delivery of two rq1 predator rpa systems, marking final deliveries of gaasis predator a product line. Current build up to 65 cap includes both mq 1 predator and mq 9 reaper weapon systems. The mq1 predator is a drone that changed the world. The mq 1 s capabilities make it uniquely qualified to conduct irregular warfare operations in support of combatant commander objectives. Spy in the sky how the predator uav works howstuffworks. The general atomics mq 1 predator is an american remotely piloted aircraft rpa built by general atomics that was used primarily by the united states air force usaf and central intelligence agency cia. First flown in 2001, predator b is a highly sophisticated development built on the. Predator rq1 mq1 mq9 reaper uav airforce technology. The mq1 uav predator as published by abacus is for microsoft flight simulator versions 9 and 10 commonly called fs2004 and fsx.
The most important american tactical uavand one that is representative of trends in the development of these aircraftis the mq1 predator, which first flew in 1994 and entered service the following year. The aircraft, in use since 1995, has seen combat over afghanistan, pakistan, bosnia, serbia, iraq, and yemen. In 2005, the air force officially changed the predator designation to mq 1 the m designates multirole to reflect its growing use as an armed attack aircraft. Jun 04, 2019 predator software informational videos. Since 2003, we have served as the united states air force s primary contractor for developmental and operational testing of the mq1 predator and mq9 reaper systems. Sep 23, 2015 an mq 1 predator unmanned aerial vehicle and f16 fighting falcon return from an operation iraqi freedom combat mission. The mq1 predator achieved initial operating capability ioc in february 2005. Tobins class with a tutorial, a few dimensions and a reference picture. Air force usaf have surpassed the 500,000 flight hour milestone, with 87 percent of those hours. Both hardware and software upgrades will be made, such as improved structural fatigue and damage tolerance and more robust flight control software, as well as enhancements allowing operations in adverse weather including icing conditions. The predator mq1, a medium altitude endurance uav, was built by general atomics aeronautical systems inc. General atomics aeronautical systems signal magazine. Defense department signature for an aircraft designated for reconnaissance.
Usaf officially retires mq1 predator while mq9 reaper set. Since 2003, we have served as the united states air forces primary contractor for developmental and operational testing of the mq1 predator and mq9 reaper systems. The q 1 predator became a historychanging deadly missile slinger 15 years ago today. Air force mq1 predators achieve 500,000 flight hours. The general atomics mq 1 predator is an unmanned aerial vehicle uav which the united states air force describes as a male mediumaltitude, longendurance uav system.
Initially conceived in the early 1990s for reconnaissance and forward observation roles, the predator carries cameras and other s. Initially conceived in the early 1990s for aerial reconnaissance and forward observation roles. Initially conceived in the early 1990s for aerial reconnaissance and forward observation roles, the predator carries cameras and other sensors. Its equipped with at least three different types of cameras that record full. The mq 9s primary mission is as a persistent hunter. Gaasi delivers final two rq1 predators to italian air force. Air force mq1 predator unmanned aerial vehicle, having just launched the aircraft from balad air base in iraq, prepare to hand over control to personnel stationed in the united states. Feel free to use the parts for educational purposes. Felix baumgartner world record supersonic skydive, complete footage, unaltered capture, hd. The reaper has come for the usafs longserving mq1 predator drone fleet, literally. Fast forward six months later and the armed predator, eventually dubbed the mq 1, fired its first.
Dec 25, 2017 general atomics aeronautical systems inc. The q1 predator became a historychanging deadly missile. Mar 03, 2009 san diego 3 march 2009 general atomics aeronautical systems, inc. The mq 1 predator was developed as an advanced concept technology demonstration actd program and has participated in various training exercises, deployments and other operational deployments. Apr 07, 2017 the united states air force plans to procure up to 329 mq 9 reapers as replacement aircraft offering greater altitude, payload and airspeed compared with the mq 1 uav. The predator is easily recognizable by its bulbous nose, downwardpointing elevators and fin, and lack of windows. San diego 22 december 2015 general atomics aeronautical systems, inc. The mq1s capabilities make it uniquely qualified to conduct irregular warfare operations in support of combatant commander objectives. In june 2015, the italian directorate for air armaments and airworthiness daaa selected cae to develop upgrades to a predator uas mission trainer for the predator a and predator b mq9 aircraft developed for the italian air force.
In less than two years, flight hours for all predator a type aircraft have. The air force has awarded general atomics aeronautical systems inc. An mq1 predator unmanned aerial vehicle and f16 fighting falcon return from. Scheduling and prioritization of weapons, payload, and software operate we are proud to support contracts overseas and allow aviators the opportunity to stay current and relevant with missions at various worldwide locations. Nasas dryden flight research center partnered with general atomics aeronautical systems, inc, gaasi to demonstrate technologies that would expand the. Gaasi, an affiliate of general atomics, provides unmanned aerial vehicles and radar solutions for the u. The rq1 predator is a longendurance, mediumaltitude unmanned aircraft. Karems company had since gone bankrupt and been bought up by a u. The predator started as an rq 1 in the late 1990s, providing only reconnaissance capabilities until the early 2000s, when it was equipped with two agm114 hellfire missiles and designated as a multirole asset. Usaf officially retires mq1 predator while mq9 reaper set to. Asi, a leading manufacturer of unmanned aircraft systems uas and tactical reconnaissance radars, today announced that mq1 predator aircraft delivered to the u. The mq 1 predator uav used most commonly by the military and cia is about the size of a small cessna prop plane. In july 1994 we delivered the first mq1 predator, and next month we. Today, march 9th, 2018, the flying service will officially retire predator, a platform.
The general atomics mq1 predator is an american remotely piloted aircraft rpa built by general atomics that was used primarily by the united states air force usaf and central intelligence agency cia. Usaf officially retires mq1 predator while mq9 reaper. The general atomics mq1 predator is an unmanned aerial vehicle uav built by general atomics and used primarily by the united states air force usaf and central intelligence agency cia. Mq1 predator unmanned aerial vehicle the pilot left and sensor operator right of a u. The q1 predator became a historychanging deadly missile slinger 15 years ago today. It was developed by general atomics aeronautical systems gaasi for the united states army as an upgrade of the general atomics mq 1 predator. In february 2001, the hellfirec laserguided missile was successfully fired from a predator air vehicle in flight tests at nellis air force base, nevada. A look at the history and impact of the predator uav on military aerial combat.
Q is a designation for unmanned or automated weapons or vehicles. The rq 1 is the reconnaissance version of the predator uav. The usaf ordered a total of 259 predators, and due to retirements and crashes the number in air force operation was reduced to 154 as of may 2014. Its a battle hardened unmanned aerial combat vehicle uacv which has proven its mettle in combat. Both aircraft provide intelligence, search and reconnaissance gathering features, as well as munitions capability to support ground troops and base defense. This principle was at the heart of the development of the rq 1 and mq 1 predator unmanned aerial vehicle. The general atomics mq 1c gray eagle previously the warrior.
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