Legend

CHARACTERISTICS Tier II, MAE UAV
Predator
Tier II+, CONV HAE UAV
Global Hawk
TierIII-, LO HAE UAV
DarkStar
 

ALTITUDE:
Maximum (km, ft)
Operating (km, ft )

ENDURANCE (Max): (hrs)

RADIUS OF ACTION: (km, nm )

SPEED:
Maximum (km/hr, kts )
Cruise (km/hr, kts )
Loiter (km/hr, kts )

CLIMB RATE (Max): (m/min, fpm )


DEPLOYMENT NEEDS:*

*Depends on equipage & duration


7.6 km 25,000 ft
4.6 km 15,000 ft

»35 hrs

740 km 400 nm


204-215 km/hr 110-115 kts
120-130 km/hr 65- 70 kts
111-120 km/hr 60- 65 kts

137 m/min 450 fpm (912 eng)
244 m/min 800 fpm(914 eng)

Multiple* C-130 sorties


19.8 km 65,000 ft
 
15.2-19.8 km 50,000-65,000 ft

38 hrs (20 hrs at 5,556 km/ 3,000 nm)

5,556 km 3,000 nm


>639 km/hr >345 kts
639 km/hr 345 kts
630 km/hr 340 kts

1,036 m/min 3,400 fpm


AV: Self-Deployable
GS: Multiple* C-141, C-17 or C-5 sorties


15.2 km 50,000 ft
 
15.2 km 50,000 ft

12 hrs (8 at 926 km/ 500 nm*)

>926 km >500 nm


556 km/hr 300 kts
556 km/hr 300 kts
241 km/hr 130 kts

610 m/min 2,000 fpm


Multiple* C-141, C-17 or C-5 sorties

PROPULSION:
Engine(s)
Ð Maker
Ð Rating
Ð Fuel
Ð Capacity (L, gal)

WEIGHT:
Empty (kg, lb )
Fuel Weight (kg, lb )
Payload (kg, lb )
Max Takeoff (kg, lb )

DIMENSIONS:
Wingspan (m, ft )
Length (m, ft )
Height (m, ft )

AVIONICS:
Transponder
Navigation

LAUNCH & RECOVERY:
Land:
Ship:

GUIDANCE & CONTROL:


One Fuel-Injected Recip; 4-stroke
- Rotax 912/Rotax 914
63.4/75.8 kw 85/105 hp
AVGAS (100 Octane)
409 L 108 gal


544 kg 1,200 lb
300 kg 660 lb
204 kg 450 lb
1,134 kg 2,500 lb


14.8 m 48.7 ft
8.1 m 26.7 ft
2.2 m 7.3 ft


Mode IIIC IFF
GPS and INS


Runway (760 m/ 2,500 ft )

Prepgmd/Remote Control/Autonomous


One Turbofan
 
- Allison AE3007H
32 kN 7,050 lb static thrust
Heavy Fuel (JP-8)
8,176 L 2,160 gal


4,055 kg 8,940 lb
6,668 kg 14,700 lb
889 kg 1,960 lb
11,612 kg 25,600 lb


35.4 m 116.2 ft
13.5 m 44.4 ft
4.6 m 15.2 ft


Mode I / II / IIIC / IV IFF
GPS and INS


Runway (1,524 m/ 5,000 ft )

Preprogrammed/Autonomous


One Turbofan
 
- Williams FJ 44-1A
8.45 kN 1,900 lb static thrust
Heavy Fuel (JP-8)
1,575 L 416 gal


1,978 kg 4,360 lb
1,470 kg 3,240 lb
454 kg 1,000 lb
3,901 kg 8,600 lb


21.0 m 69 ft
4.6 m 15 ft
1.5 m 5 ft


Mode IIIC IFF
GPS and INS


Runway (<1,219 m/< 4,000 ft)

Preprogrammed/Autonomous

 

SENSOR(S):

DATA LINK(S):
Type:


Bandwidth:

Data Rate:
- Analog (Hz)
- Digital (bps)

C2 LINK(S):

EO, IR, and SAR


C-band LOS; (growth to Ku-band TCDL);Ku-band SATCOM

C-band LOS: 20 MHz
Ku-band SATCOM: RL/CL: 5/9 MHz


C-band LOS: 20 MHz
Ku-band SATCOM: RL: 1.544 Mbps
CL: 64 kpbs



Through Data Links

EO, IR, and SAR 


UHF LOS and SATCOM; X-band CDL LOS; Ku-band SATCOM

UHF LOS/SATCOM: 25/25 kHz X-CDL
LOS: RL/CL: 137/64 MHz
Ku-SATCOM: RL/CL: 3-69/0.26 MHz

UHF LOS/SATCOM: 9.6/9.6 kbps
X-CDL LOS: RL: 137 Mbps (48 used)
CL: 200 kbps
Ku-SATCOM: RL: 1.5-48 Mbps
CL: 200 kbps

Through Data Links

EO or SAR 


UHF LOS and SATCOM; X-band CDL LOS; Ku-band SATCOM
UHF LOS/SATCOM: 9.6/25 kHz DAMA
X-CDL LOS: RL/CL: 137/64 MHz
Ku-SATCOM: RL/CL: 26/(N/A) MHz


UHF LOS/SATCOM: 4.8/1.2 & 2.4 kbps*
X-CDL LOS: RL: 137 Mbps (84 used)
CL: 200 kbps
Ku-SATCOM: RL: 1.54 Mbps
CL: (N/A)

Through UHF LOS, UHF SATCOM, or CDL LOS

 

SYSTEM COMPOSITION:

 

PRIME/KEY CONTRACTOR(S):

MAJOR SUBCONTRACTORS:
- Air Vehicles, Propulsion, Avionics, Payloads, Information Processing, Communications, Ground and Support Systems

4 AVs, 1 GCS, 1 Trojan Spirit II
Dissemination System, GSE

General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems


Boeing Defense & Space (DEMPC); Litton (INS/GPS); L3 Com (Ku-band SATCOM); Magnavox/ Carlyle Gp; Northrop Grumman (SAR); Rotax Cp (engine); Trimble (GPS); Versatron Cp (EO/IR)

AVs (TBD); HAE CGS

Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical

 

Allison Engine/Rolls Royce; Aurora Flight Sciences; Boeing Rockwell; GDE Systems/Tracor; HŽroux; Hughes Aircraft; L3 Com; Menasco; Raytheon E-Systems

AVs (TBD); HAE CGS

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works/Boeing Military Aircraft Division

ABS Cp; Advanced Composites; Aydin Vector; CI Fiberite; Hexcel; Honeywell Avionics; Litton G&C; L3 Com; Recon/Optical; Rockwell Collins; Rosemount Aerospace; Northrop Grumman, Williams International