Predator unmanned combat aircraft

Global Hawk is not a stealth reconnaissance plane, because it doesn't have much stealth design, and there is no need to design the drone as a stealth plane to avoid the attack of the other side.

As for the difference between Hellfire missiles mounted by marauders and Apache missiles, we don't know the details yet, but in principle there should be no big difference. They are all air-to-surface missiles-planes, so there is no need to make too much design changes.

Predator UAV has not been modified by Global Hawk, and the two UAVs are produced by different companies, forming a competitive situation. These reports are as follows:

The competition between the two UAV manufacturers in the US Department of Defense is becoming increasingly obvious, and they are fighting for the monopoly position in the high-altitude UAV market. The friendship between General Atoms Predator UAV and Northrop Grumman Global Hawk UAV will come to an end. The reason is that General Atomics upgraded the predator to Predator -B, which destroyed the balance between the two companies in the drone market.

General Atomics has been developing Predator -B independently and managed to sell three Predator-Bs to the US Air Force. Predator -B with turbine engine is superior to predator in all aspects, and the price is lower. Northrop Grumman is quietly fighting back. The head of the company said that the performance of Global Hawk is far superior to that of Predator -B, and he is skeptical about the excellent characteristics of Predator-B.

Faced with the competition between the two companies, the US Air Force does not want to get involved. Because different products have different characteristics, the US Air Force is interested in the products of these two companies and it is difficult to choose. D Boone, the US Air Force official in charge of these two UAV products, said that "Predator -B can neither replace Global Hawk nor Global Hawk can replace Predator -B". He also said: "If we examine the carrying payload and tracking ability, Predator -B is actually not as good as Global Hawk". Because the payload of Predator -B is 3 17kg and the flying altitude is13700 m; Global Hawk has a payload of 907 ~ 1 360 kg, and its flying altitude exceeds19811m.. The difference between Predator and Predator -B is that the flying height of Predator is 4 570 ~ 7 620 m, which can provide clear reconnaissance video images for ground command organs, while Predator -B flies higher than Predator, but the clarity of the captured images is much worse than that of Predator.

Boone said that the US Air Force is interested in Predator -B because Predator -B has its proper position between Predator and Global Hawk. When the weather is bad, the tracking characteristics of Predator become worse, while Predator -B can work normally. Predator -B can carry bigger sensors. Compared with the Global Hawk, Predator -B is smaller, more flexible and difficult to be discovered by the enemy.

In addition, the US Air Force is ready to arm Predator -B, because Predator -B can fly at an altitude of 13 000m, and if a GPS system is installed, it can guide a small-caliber bomb of 1 13kg. It is suitable for GPS guided bombs to attack ground targets from this height, and the bombing effect will be better. The Global Hawk will not be armed, because the US Air Force only wants to use it for aerial surveillance and reconnaissance.

Before the competition between Global Hawk and Predator -B was fully launched, Northrop Grumman and EADS brought the European Eagle UAV improved from Global Hawk to Germany for demonstration test in autumn 2002. The German Air Force intends to install 1 electronic intelligence sensor on Eurohawk, and then complete the test in northern Germany. General Atomics is also paying attention to the trend of purchasing drones in Germany. It is associated with STN Atlas, which provided low-altitude drones to the German Air Force. But the German government is not interested in Predator -B yet.

This year, the Predator -B will be continuously improved according to the requirements put forward by the US Air Force. The improvement may be: strengthening the wing and landing system and increasing the payload. Boone said that the US Air Force has been considering increasing the purchase quantity of Predator and Predator -B, that is, it can purchase 24 aircraft every year, and hopes to control them with the same ground station. At the same time, the US Air Force will also finalize the procurement plan of Global Hawks, that is, four Global Hawks will be purchased in 2003, and six will be purchased every year thereafter.

Predator drone details are as follows:

Country: USA

Category: Military aircraft reconnaissance, early warning and electronic warfare aircraft.

Predator UAV is a long-endurance unmanned reconnaissance aircraft in the air, which is used by the US military to provide intelligence support for the decision-making of theater commanders and commanders of synthetic forces. Captain 8? 13m, wingspan 14? 85 meters, the maximum activity radius is 3700 kilometers, the maximum flight speed is 240 kilometers per hour, the time to leave the target is 24 hours, and the maximum cruising time is 60 hours. The aircraft is equipped with photoelectric/infrared reconnaissance equipment, GPS navigation equipment and synthetic aperture radar with all-weather reconnaissance capability, with a resolution of 0 at a height of 4000 meters. 3 meters, the target positioning accuracy is 0? 25 meters. Soft landing or parachute emergency recovery can be used. During the Kosovo war, the United States used two Predator drones to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance in small areas or valleys. 1999, the us military equipped nine such aircraft, and plans to purchase 12 predator aircraft before 2002.

Developed countries: the United States

Model: Predator Predator

Developed by General Atomics.

Cost: about $4.5 million

Status: Active Service

I. Overview:

Predator medium-range UAV was developed from 1994 65438+ 10 to1996 in June. It signed its first contract with General Atomics in San Diego, California. 1994 made its first flight and had actual combat capability that year.

Predator TPE-33 1 engine

Second, the performance indicators:

The captain is 320.4 inches, the wingspan is 580.8 inches and the height is 72 inches.

C band frequency

Fuel capacity 1 10L Maximum endurance 40 hours ceiling 26,000 feet stall speed 54 knots cruise speed 70-90 knots takeoff weight 2100lb.

Third, the structural characteristics:

Predators can be conveniently transported in transport boxes for long distances.

Iv. arms control and electronic systems:

The typical Predator system includes four UAVs, a ground control system and a data distribution system of "Spirit of Troy II". The UAV itself has a battery life of 40 hours and a cruising speed of126 km/h. The aircraft itself is equipped with UHF and VHF radio stations and a C-band line-of-sight data link with a range of 270 kilometers. The payload on board for surveillance and reconnaissance is 204 kg. The two-color DLTV optical camera on the plane uses a 955mm zoom lens. The high-resolution forward-looking infrared system has six adjustable focal lengths, the minimum is 19mm, and the maximum is 560 mm. Grumman's Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) provides Predator with all-weather monitoring capability with a resolution of 0.3m Other optional loads can be adjusted according to specific tasks, including laser pointing and ranging devices, electronic countermeasures devices and moving target indicators.

Photoelectric turret

The ground control station is installed in an independent trailer with a length of 10 meter, which contains seats and consoles for remote pilot, monitoring and reconnaissance operators, three Boeing mission planning and development consoles, two synthetic aperture radar consoles, and satellite communication and line-of-sight communication data terminals.

The ground station can send the image information to the operator through the ground line or the "Trojan Spirit" data distribution system. The Trojan Spirit uses a 5.5m Ku-band terrestrial data terminal dish antenna and a 2.4m data distribution dish antenna. The figure on the right shows the operator console. The upper display shows the route and other information, and the lower display outputs the image of the predator camera.

The mobile control system can be used by frontline commanders to directly control and receive reconnaissance information. Another configuration is to use American high-powered vehicles (large jeeps) to carry small ground stations, which have basically the same functions as the basic ground stations.

Smaller video receiving systems can be carried by smaller troops, such as special forces behind enemy lines, to receive reconnaissance information.

Five, technical characteristics analysis and review:

Predator UAV can take off on rugged ground, and the take-off process is controlled by remote pilots in sight. The typical take-off and landing distance is about 667 meters. Mission control information and reconnaissance image information are transmitted through Ku-band satellite data link. After the image signal is transmitted to the ground station, it can be forwarded to the command departments all over the world, or directly sent to the command users through a commercial standard global broadcasting system. In this way, the commander can control the predator to conduct photography and video image reconnaissance in real time.

Six, equipment and model evolution:

The Air Force currently has 60 Predators, and he said that if funds are obtained, the Air Force will purchase more aircraft.

In March 2002, the US Air Force formally established the first armed Predator UAV squadron. The unit plans to equip 20 armed predators and will be stationed in Indiana, Nevada with 1 1 and 15 reconnaissance squadrons. Spring Airport is a backup airport, which reached full operational capability in 2005. The personnel of the new unit will be transferred from the existing two squadrons and some new members will be trained.

In fiscal year 2003, the US Air Force purchased 25 aircraft at a cost of $654.38+39 billion. In fiscal year 2004, we purchased 16 predators with a value of 2 10/00000 USD. The US Air Force will receive nine Predators from June 654.38+0 in fiscal year 2005, with a total value of $65.438+0.47 billion.

1 In May, 1998, Predator System started the upgrade plan of1block. The improvement includes a system that reduces the work of the system, so that reconnaissance information will not be lost inside the system, and provides a secure air traffic control voice transmission, Ku-band satellite tuning and air force mission support system.

In March 2006, 5438+0 Predator -B UAV 00 1 made its first flight. The project includes three different structures of aircraft. Predator B00 1 is equipped with General Electric TPE-33 1- 10T turboprop engine, with a takeoff weight of 2,900kg and a load of 340kg. It can cruise at an altitude of15,200m at a speed of 370km/h ... The Predator B002 currently being manufactured will use the Williams FJ44-2A turbojet engine, which can fly at an altitude of about18,300m at a speed of 500km/h ... Its flight test was conducted at 200/kloc-0. Altair, the last model of Predator B series, will be used for scientific and commercial purposes, and needs to have a large load capacity and a ceiling of15850m. Altair will be equipped with a general electric turboprop engine. It can perform various atmospheric research tasks at the same time, and send the collected data in real time via satellite. 200 1, 1 1, the US Air Force ordered two Predator B. Because the engine is changed, the purchase price of the B type is higher than that of the basic type, and the maintenance equipment is different, but the ground station is the same. After comparing Predator B and Global Hawk, the US military finally chose Predator B. The unit price of Predator is between 2.5 million and 4.5 million dollars, while the unit price of Global Hawk is between 45 million and 50 million dollars. Predator B can carry eight Hellfire anti-tank missiles, while the basic type can only carry two. Type B can perform tasks between 45,000 meters and 52,000 meters, which is about twice that of the basic type. The flight speed is three times that of the basic model.

The next plan also includes the test of launching the FIM-92 Stinger short-range surface-to-air missile. General Atomics recently won a follow-up contract worth $3,900 to produce seven more Predators for the US Air Force. In addition, seven production contracts are still being proposed. In addition, the experiment of "transmitting images from drones to fighters" is also under way. During the drill, a Predator UAV equipped with UHF and VHF radio communication equipment was used for relay communication, and real-time video images were transmitted from the ground to British and American combat aircraft.

On June 5438+ 10, 2004, General Atomic Aviation Systems announced that Predator UAV powered by HFE Fuel Company had successfully made its first flight, which laid a solid foundation for the "Warrior" UAV developed by the company to bid for the Army Extended Range Multipurpose (ERMP) UAV system project. The "Warrior" UAV that the company intends to provide for the Army is a long-endurance unmanned combat aircraft based on the improved Predator UAV, and its power plant adopts the fuel type commonly used by the Army. The person in charge of the company said that HFE power plant can reduce maintenance costs and increase service life.

Seven, combat use:

Since it was put into use, predators have been appearing in Europe and Southeast Asia.

Eight, actual combat performance:

Predator 1996 participated in peacekeeping in Bosnia.

Predators flew 50 sorties in Kosovo. .

Iraq claims to have shot down a predator. Predators also took part in combat operations in Afghanistan. It is said that a predator found Osama's car, but lost its target because of the delay of the ground commander's decision. A month later, a predator successfully returned to Ben? Real-time video signal from the hiding place of a senior officer under bin Laden, and then several F- 15E bombed the area, killing the officer. 200 1, 10, the predator fired missiles in actual combat for the first time, destroying a Taliban tank.

In March 2003, Predator began to carry two AGM- 1 14K Helfa II laser-guided anti-tank missiles to carry out the task of destroying Iraqi ZSU-23-4 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.

Since the Predator UAV was put into use, the US Air Force has lost more than 20.