Medium Altitude Endurance UAV, Predator

Program Description

Joint Force Commander (JFC) Operational Need

The Medium Altitude Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (MAE UAV), Predator, provides affordable medium altitude reconnaissance and surveillance with a rapid deployment capability. Current national, theater, and tactical intelligence collection assets do not provide for long dwell, releasable near-real-time intelligence information on fixed and mobile targets for the in-theater CINC, Joint Force Command (JFC), and the National Command Authority (NCA).

The Predator is fully autonomous, low cost/attritable, and interoperable with the current architecture. The design has achieved an air vehicle fly-away cost of less than $4 million. The Predator provides a near-term capability with potential cueing from satellites, Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint-STARS), U-2s, RIVET JOINT, and AWACS. The system takes advantage of available technology to provide continuous, near all-weather day/night coverage with EO/IR and SAR sensors and produces releasable/unclassified image products. The Predator can operate untethered and ground control is only needed for updating its activities. It is ideally suited for continuous observation over lightly defended areas when rapid deployment is necessary. The Predator will operate under the Operational Control (OPCON) of the JFC.

System Objective/Parameters

The first objective of the Predator ACTD was to quickly satisfy military need by providing a deployment capability within the 30-month ACTD time frame. The second principal objective was to develop concepts of operation for endurance UAVs in general. This program stresses COTS system integration in order to meet its low cost requirement. Off-the-shelf EO, IR, SAR, navigation, systems, engines, and basic aircraft design were integrated to produce Predator. The SAR is based on previous development from the A-12 program but was repackaged to fit the Predator. The EO/IR sensors are rated at National Imagery Interpretation Rating Scale (NIIRS) 6 or better and the SAR sensor has 1 foot resolution. The Predator can operate under most weather conditions with a range in excess of 500 nautical miles from the launch area at altitudes ranging from 3,000 to 25,000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL). The Predator can loiter for 24 hours at its 500 nautical mile range or over an area covered by 40 hours of flight time. It is supported by transportable ground control vans which are equipped with both line-of-sight (LOS) (C-band) control for an operating range greater than 148 nautical miles (demonstrated in Bosnia) and SATCOM (UHF and Ku-Wideband) relay for beyond line of sight ranges. The system is highly mobile, transportable by C5, C-141, or C-130 aircraft and can be operational six hours after arrival. The Predator CONOPS is portrayed in Figure 2-11.

Figure 2-11: Predator CONOPS

Program Status

Accomplishments

The MAE ACTD accomplishments can be recognized through milestones that have occurred since November of 1993.

• November 1993-Congress funded/directed program start

• January 1994-Program went on contract

• March 1994-ACTD Management Plan was developed

• April 1994-Critical Design review occurred

• May 1994-CINCUSACOM CONOPS was signed

• July 1994-First air vehicle (AV) and ground control station (GCS) was delivered/flown

• January 1995-System was ready for deployment/exercise

• March 1995-Delivery of all ten UAVs and three GCSs was completed

• August 1995-Real world deployment occurred to support Bosnia operations which included 850 flight hours over 130 missions and the first Ku SATCOM operational flights

• November 1995-USACOM declared military utility of the system

• December 1995-USACOM supported procurement of twelve additional systems

• January 1996-Joint Staff recommended U.S. Air Force as operating Service

• March 1996-Final configuration (EO/IR/SAR and UHF/Ku SATCOM) was redeployed to support operations in Bosnia

Future Plans

Based on the accomplishments, future plans for the Predator ACTD with an associated timeline include:

• identifying potential upgrades such as de-icing, UHF radio, etc.;

• identifying and prioritizing future payload upgrades;

• updating the CONOPS-June 1996;

• upgrading all systems to final configuration-June 1996;

• conducting Navy demonstration with Predator controlled from a submarine-June 1996;

• reaching the conclusion of the Predator ACTD-June 1996;

• providing program support for exercises/demonstrations; and

• conducting exercises/demonstrations as needed.

Program Management

DARO, as the responsible agent for developing and managing the airborne reconnaissance architecture, has provided program funding. The UAV JPO, PEO(CU), is the Executing Agent and has provided the day-to-day management of the ACTD development. The UAV JPO has designated CAPT Allen Rutherford, PEO(CU) UD, as the ACTD Demonstration Manager. USACOM has actively participated as the user sponsor and has provided the context/scenario(s) for the demonstration, active force element participants and equipment, military utility, and post-demonstration analysis.

MAE UAV Predator points of contact are listed below.

AT Staff	Service/Agency POC	User Sponsor
Lt Col Don Blackwelder (703) 614-0193	CAPT Alan Rutherford JPO/CU (703) 604-1109, x3649	CDR Greg Koumbis USACOM (804) 444-8090

Master Plan Table of Contents