The Rise Of The Droids

The U.S. Air Force is, for the first time, converting a fighter wing from manned (F-16) combat aircraft, to unmanned ones (the MQ-9 Reaper.) The conversion, for the 174th Fighter Wing, has been in the works for three years, and the last combat sorties in manned aircraft were flown last week, by members of the 174th serving in Iraq.

The air force has already converted several combat wings to fly Predators which, while armed (with two 107 pound Hellfire missiles), are considered reconnaissance aircraft. The Reaper is considered a combat aircraft, optimized for seeking out and destroying ground targets. Jet powered combat UAVs are in development. It's only a matter of time before UAVs take over air superiority, strategic bombing and suppression of enemy air defenses duties as well.

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Reaper, (also known as Predator B) an outgrowth of the combat proven Predator A UAS, became operational in 2007 and as it began flying combat missions over Afghanistan. This Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV overcomes most of the difficulties encountered with previous UAVs that commonly must compromise between conflicting demands for payload, speed, altitude, speed and persistence. With an operational ceiling of 50,000ft, and higher cruising speed, Reaper can cover a larger area, under all weather conditions carrying payloads of more than 1.5 tons. The aircraft is powered by a single Honeywell TP331-10 engine, producing 950 shp, provides a maximum airspeed of 260 kts and a cruise speed for maximum endurance of 150-170 kts.

Following successful integration of Hellfire missiles, an armed version of Predator was deployed in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in 2002. These aircraft are designated MQ-1. Officially, the Predator A system was declared "operational" only in 2004, ten years after it began flying with the US Military. Predator UAVs are currently operated by the US Air Force and Italian Air Force. By September 2007 the Predator fleet accumulated a total of 300,000 flight hours, over 80 percent in combat missions and this pace is increasing. In October 2007 alone, the Predator fleet performed 12,000 hours. More recently the USAF fielded the Reaper, a larger more capable UAS based on an outgrowth of the Predator platform.

Original Predator A, with weapons updates


During operations in Iraq the Air Force used both in- and out-of-theater ground control stations, with beyond-line-of-sight air vehicle control, to fly Predator. This gave the Combined Forces Air Component Commander great flexibility since he could increase capability and have redundant control using up to five ground control stations at multiple locations. Three orbits were controlled, via remote operations, from the United States. Four simultaneous Predator orbits were flown over Iraq, and an additional orbit operated over Afghanistan. Combining the reach back operation in support of combat operations in-theater, used for both Global Hawk and Predator significantly reduced troop deployment and improved system availability, reduced theater force protection needs, and saved significant operating costs. Moving data rather than people was a demonstration of “networked” operations and another example of the rapidly evolving use of UAVs. This enhanced capability shortens the kill chain and dramatically reduces the opportunity for targets to flee if tactical aircraft are unavailable to deliver weapons. Since operation Iraqi Freedom, Predators continue to maintain high operational tempo in combat missions over the Middle East and Afghanistan. In October 2007 Predator UAVs accumulated record 12,000 flight hours per month.

The USAF preferred to operate the Predator with "pilot in the loop". During operation in Iraq and Afghanistan, Predators are flown by USAF pilots located in Nellis AFB California. The aircraft and mission payloads are controlled via satellite data link. Sensor feeds are received in the mission control center back in USA via satellite where they are processed and analyzed. The imagery and intelligence products are distributed on the global intelligence network (DCGS) and are accessible to USAF and other forces worldwide. Raw images can also be used, as they are received directly by units in theater, using video links. The air vehicle is equipped with UHF and VHF radio relay links, a C-band line-of-sight data link which has a range of 150 nautical miles and UHF and Ku-band satellite data links.

The UAV Ground Control Station is built into a single 30ft. trailer, containing pilot and payload operator consoles, three Boeing Data Exploitation and Mission Planning Consoles and two synthetic aperture radar workstations On board communications equipment include satellite and line-of-sight) ground data terminals. The Ground Control Station can send imagery data via a land line to the operational users or to the Trojan Spirit data distribution system. The Trojan Spirit II data distribution system is equipped with a 5.5m dish for Ku-band Ground Data Terminal and a 2.4m dish for data dissemination.