Background: General Atomics' RQ-1A/Predator® first flew in Jun 94, 9 months after approval as DARPA's Medium Altitude Endurance (MAE, or Tier 2) UAV ACTD (Oct 94) and 6 months after contract award (Jan 94). Its design evolved from the earlier Amber and Gnat 750 UAVs. Deployed overseas during its ACTD, it flew reconnaissance missions over Bosnia for Operations Provide Promise (Jul-Nov 95), then later for Joint Endeavor (Mar 96-Dec 97), and Deliberate Guard (Mar 98-present) and had accumulated 10,400 hrs by Nov 98. The U.S. Air Force has contracted for 12 systems (four aircraft each) and has formed two Predator units, the 11th and the 15th Reconnaissance Squadrons, based at Indian Springs AAF, NV. France also operates Predators as the Horus UAV. Maritime and comm relay variants have also been explored.

Length, ft	26.7	Wing Span, ft	48.7
Gross Weight, lbs	2,300	Payload Weight, lbs	450
Fuel Capacity, lbs	650	Fuel Type	AVGAS
Engine Make	1xRotax 914	Power, hp	100
Structure	Fiberglass
Guidance		Navigation	LN-100G INS/GPS
Data Link(s)	5000-5850 MHz 14.0-14.5 GHz	Data Rate(s)	1.5/0.064 Mbps (down/up)

Endurance, hrs	40 (demo)	Radius, nm	1500
Max Speed, kts	100	Stall Speed, kts
Altitude, ft	27,000
Takeoff Means	Conventional (2200 ft runway reqd)
Navigation	Preprogrammed (points)/ autonomous/direct control
Landing Means	Conventional (1100 ft runway reqd)

Sensor(s): Versatron SA-144/18 EO/IR and Northrop Grumman TESAR SAR