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MQ-1B Predator

MQ-1B Predator Operations

During Kosovo, using the Predator in a quick-reaction capacity was experimented with. By the end of Kosovo Predator had been fitted with laser designators. To put the laser on Predator required removing one of the cameras in order to make room. Kosovo ended before any operational attempts were made to lase targets for support. After Kosovo the design kept evolving, to a reduction turret that had both cameras in it and the laser designator.

The Air Force's predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle made aerospace history 21 February 2001 when it successfully launched a live HELLFIRE missile helping it evolve from a non-lethal, reconnaissance asset to an armed, highly accurate tank killer. Capping a three-part series of demonstration flight tests, Predator successfully aimed and launched a 'live' HELLFIRE-C, laser-guided missile that struck an unmanned, stationary Army tank on the ground at Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Airfield near Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

The UAV was equipped with "hard points" by General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems International (GA-ASI), the prime contractor. The armed drone tests were conducted by the Air Force's "Big Safari" Program, which develops intelligence related aircraft.

Carrying HELLFIRE reduces endurance by a number of hours because of increased drag, especially if the drone was only carrying one, because of the subsequent 100 pounds of lopsided weight on the airplane.

In late 2001 the Defense Department claimed a nearly "100 percent record of hits" in several dozen battlefield attacks by Predators in Afghanistan.

The deaths in Yemen of six suspected al-Qaida terrorists, including a key planner in the bloody attack on a American destroyer the USS Cole, were the work of a missile fired by a unmanned US aircraft. On 4 November 2002 six al-Qaida members traveling in a vehicle in Yemen were killed by a HELLFIRE missile fired by a CIA controlled Predator unmanned drone aircraft. Among those reported killed was Ali Qaed Senyan al-Harethi, a key suspect in the October 2000 attack in Yemen on the US destroyer Cole. The senior al-Qaida leader in Yemen, Abu Ali al-Harithi, was riding in a car along with five other alleged terrorists. A missile, reportedly fired by a CIA unmanned aircraft, hit the vehicle about 170 kilometers east of Yemen's capital Sana'a. All inside were killed. The MQ-1B was flown by a pilot on the ground in French-garrisoned Djibouti and overseen by commanders in Saudi Arabia. The killing of the suspected al-Qaida senior operative sparked controversy in Yemen, and elsewhere in the Arab world. Analysts say many Arabs were willing to support the US-led war on terrorism, but not if US forces carried out such operations in Arab countries. In September 2002 Yemen had announced only Yemeni troops would be used to track down suspected al-Qaida members, and that no covert operations would be conducted by US forces. The United States said it still opposed Israel's policy of targeting Palestinian militants for assassination even though the CIA apparently used the same tactic in killing a senior al-Qaida operative.

A US Air Force MQ-1 Predator found and destroyed a radar-guided anti-aircraft artillery piece in southern Iraq 22 March 2003 at 5:25 pm Eastern time, making it the first Predator strike of Operation Iraqi Freedom, defense officials announced. The multi-role Predator used one AGM-114K HELLFIRE II missile to strike an Iraqi ZSU-23-4 Mobile anti-aircraft artillery gun outside the southern Iraqi town of Al Amarah.

An MQ-1B Predator unmanned aerial vehicle based at Balad AB Iraq engaged three anti-Iraqi forces in the process of placing an improvised explosive device along a road near Balad Air Base Monday night, 29 March 2004. The Predator launched an AGM-114 HELLFIRE missile against the group. The Predator monitored the three individuals for about half an hour while they used a pick ax to dig a hole in the road, placed an explosive round in the hole and strung wires from the hole to a ditch on the side of the road. When it was clear the individuals were placing an IED, the Predator launched the 105-pound Hellfire missile, resulting in the deaths of all three insurgents. "This is a prime example of how airpower is supporting the fight on the ground," said Brig. Gen. Frank Gorenc, 332d Air Expeditionary Wing commander. "We're able to provide a persistent view of the battlefield to commanders on the ground, and if called upon, put a weapon on a target within minutes."

Using joint Army and Air Force trend analysis and past incident reporting from the area, the Predator was assigned to monitor the general location where the insurgents were ultimately found. "Based on the information we had available, we had a pretty good idea there might be some activity in the area, and we were right," said General Gorenc. "This strike should send a message to our enemies that we're watching you, and we will take action against you any time, day or night, if you continue to stand in the way of progress in Iraq."

The MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft system continued to build its reputation as an increasingly high-demand, lethal asset in counterinsurgency operations, achieving a monthly record of 4,700 flying hours in July 2005. The July milestone added to the more than 103,000 total combat hours that ACC had flown the Predator unmanned system in global operations since 9-11.

In October 2005 it was announced that the Air Combat Command (ACC) was in the process of determing the acquistion strategy for a potential requirement to continue operations and maintenance (O&M) services of the Predator UAV MQ-1B program at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, as well as at deployed sites worldwide. The contract [FA4890-06-R-0004] performance period would commence in March 2007 with the anticipation of a five (5) year effort.

The contractor would provide all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, and services necessary to perform Predator organizational maintenance for: aircraft, Ground Control Stations (GCS), and Predator Primary Satellite Links (PPSL). The contractor would be responsible for program management and providing support, following the basic requirements of AFI 21-101 whose tasks include, but are not limited to: maintaining equipment in accordance with approved AF technical data, quality assurance, maintaining qualifications/certifications for weapons loading, parts/supplies ordering and accountability, and developing flying and maintenance schedules. The mission of the Predator was to be a multi-role Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) capable of reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, killer scout, forward air controller, and combat search and rescue support missions. The principle place of performance was Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, as well as various worldwide locations.

An orbit was defined as the total effort (aircraft and personnel) required to generate and sustain a combat capable aircraft in the air 24 hours a day, continuously as dictated by the mission requirements. The historical average over the last six months of 2005 was 536 hours per contracted orbit, however the contractor would provide necessary support to be able to sustain a monthly flying effort of 720 flying hours per month. On rare occassions the orbit requirement may surge and exceed 720 hours per month.

As of mid-2006, base year deployments were projected to total eleven orbits, four of which were stand alone orbits. Remaining orbits would collocate to maximum extend possible in support of theater requirements, but anticipate four separate operating locations. MQ-1 Predator had become the Air Force's premier weapon system in support of these operations, exceeding the expectations of our warfighters. Especially noteworthy was the continuous support of ten 24/7/365 combat orbits by March 2007.