Headquarters Air Warfare Center T e s t i n g T r a i n i n g T a c t i c s I n no v a t i o n O p e r a t i o n s UCAVs, Armed UAVs & Precision Munitions MQ-1 Predator Battlefield Integration Lt Col J.R. Gear Director of Operations 17th Reconnaissance Squadron This briefing is classified: UNCLASSIFIED
One Man s Vision We have just won a war with a lot of heroes flying around in planes. The next war may be fought by airplanes with no men in them at all. It certainly will be fought with planes so far superior to those we have now that there will be no basis for comparison. Take everything you ve learned about aviation in war, throw it out of the window, and let s go to work on tomorrow s aviation. It will be different from anything the world has ever seen. Gen Hap Arnold, USAAF VJ Day, 1945
Predator Primary Mission Real-time actionable support to the warfighter through video surveillance of surface actions, coordination of air strikes, and direct fire. The Predator also supports preplanned ISR, Interdiction, Strategic Attack, and Combat Search and Rescue.
Overview Predator Evolution / Force Structure Predator Weapon System Tactical Capabilities Doctrinal Roles Evolving/Current Missions Emerging Capabilities
Predator Evolution POC-ISAFAF POC-N Split Operations Split Operations Traditional LOS Operations 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 RQ-1 Operation Operation Deliberate Deliberate Forge Forge MQ-9 9 GBU-38 MAC MAC AGM-114P MQ-9 9 Prototype/GBU-12 Operation Operation Iraqi Iraqi Freedom Freedom Operation Operation Enduring Enduring Freedom Freedom MQ-1 1 AGM-114K Operation Operation Southern Southern Watch Watch Operation Operation Allied Allied Force Force
11th, 15th & 17th Reconnaissance Squadrons Began as Advance Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) 11 RS based at Indian Springs AFAF Established Fall 95 15 RS based at Nellis AFB Established Fall 95 17 RS based at Nellis AFB Established Spring 02 Initial Operational Capability (IOC) 1 March 2005 Testing - Training - Tactics - Innovation - Operations
Predator Current Locations 15 RS & 17 RS at (POC-N) Nellis AFB 11 RS at ISAFAF CLT LRE OEF 46 ERS LRE OIF POC-N Predator Operations Cell Nellis CLT Civilian Logistics Team LRE Launch and Recovery Element Testing - Training - Tactics - Innovation - Operations
Recon Squadrons Op Tempo 11 RS FTU / 3 ISAFAF Missions a day 2850 Hours in CY04 / est. 2850+ Hours in CY05 55 Training Shots 17 RS 2 OEF Missions a day 7000 Hours in CY04 / est. 8000 Hours in CY05 55 of 57 Hellfires Successful (96%) 15 RS 5 OIF Missions a day 1 OEF Missions a day 19000 Hours in CY04 / est. 25000 Hours in CY05 38 of 40 Hellfires Successful (95%) 1 Mission 12-20 hours Testing - Training - Tactics - Innovation - Operations
Operational Flight Hours 25000 20000 15000 10000 11 RS Hours 15 RS Hours 17 RS Hours 5000 0 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005* * Estimated
Predator System 4 Aircraft 1 Predator Primary Satellite Link (PPSL) 1 Ground Control Station (GCS)
Predator Basic Capabilities MQ-1 Remote Piloted Aircraft Airspeed: Altitude: Range: 65-120 Knots 10-25K MSL >130 NM LOS 1000 NM Ku Endurance: 16 24 Hours Comm: IFF: Sensors: Capes: UHF/VHF Modes I-IV EO/IR/SAR EO/IR Video, SAR, SIGINT, Hellfire
Sensor Capes EO Day Only 6-Step, 155x Optical Zoom 2x, 4x Digital Zoom EO IR Day, Night 3 to 5 Micron (Med IR) 6-Step 56x Optical Zoom 2x, 4x Digital Zoom IR SAR Day, Night, All Wx Resolution: 0.3 m Swath Width: 600-1100 m SAR Signal Intelligence
Ultra-wide FOV
Headquarters Air Warfare Medium Center FOV T e s t i n g T r a i n i n g T a c t i c s I n no v a t i o n O p e r a t i o n s
Narrow FOV
Ultra-narrow FOV
2X FOV
Connectivity Options C-Band LOS - 150nm 4.5 Mbs, Analog Link Real-time, full-motion EO / IR Required for T/O & landing Ku-Band SATCOM - 500nm+ 3.2 Mbs, Digital Link Compressed video 2 sec delay Lost-Link Preprogram Mission PPSL Ku Satellite LOS GCS
Split Ops Comm Link GBS Ku DATMs PPSL LRE LRE POC-N
Tactical Communications Ku Satellite Fiber Optics POC-N PPSL Europe ARC-210 VHF/UHF Voice Have Quick and Secure Voice in development. DSN and VOIP* Phone Internet Relay Chat Unclass/Sec/TS SCI CRC/RAPCON/CAOC ASOC/TOC *VOIP: Voice over Internet Protocol JTAC Secret and Top Secret SCI Internet Relay Chat Tactical Datalink in development.
Video Dissemination Nellis AFB Ku Satellite GCS* Fiber Optics Ops Cell DCGS* ROVER Feed GBS Predator Video Network JTAC * GCS: Ground Control Station * DCGS: Distributed Common Ground Station
Tactical Capabilities Persistence: 20+ hrs mission time without refueling breaks Full Motion Video: TV and IR, real time to the warrior ROVER provides streaming video and telemetry Increased Tactical SA in the POC: Falcon View, Task View, C 2 PC, Link 16 Secure chat and landlines Force Multiplier: Real time targeting with Joint Terminal Air Controller Ability to act as a comm relay POC-N capability to mensurate coordinates
Tactical Capabilities Laser Target Designator and Illuminator: Routinely buddy lase for coalition aircraft USAF Fighters most difficult to coordinate buddy attacks Predator Aircrew employ 3-1 & JP 3-09.3 TTPs OIF/OEF SPINs Predator Buddy Lase procedures 31 Dec Excellent Accuracy Small spot size Outstanding cape to mark targets Laser with LST or Illuminator with NVGs Precision, Low-Yield Weapon: AGM-114 K/M Hellfire Suitable for troops in contact and urban operation Employment 8.5K Slant Range / 10K AGL Expanded Hellfire envelope in testing
Hellfire Hard-points/Pylon MTS Multispectral Targeting System Laser Designator EO and IR Laser Marker AGM-114 K/M Hellfire
AGM-114K/M/P Hellfire
Tactical Disadvantages Slow Speed: Approximately 100 knots ground speed Very Susceptible to Weather: Cannot fly in clouds/icing or moderate turbulence Medium Altitudes Only: 25,000 maximum altitude Aircraft Radio: One ARC-210 with limited range Secure voice and HQ in development
Roland vs Predator
Doctrinal Roles ISR Surface Attack Intelligence preparation of the battlespace Lines of Communication (LOC) reconnaissance Supply routes, pipelines, etc High Value Target stakeout Target reconnaissance and acquisition Close Air Support Video support of surface actions Air strike coordination Direct fire support Interdiction Strategic Attack Combat Search and Rescue
Evolving Missions Primarily ISR 95-01 Counterland/SCAR Training began Aug 01 Combat tested in OIF / OEF Strike/Interdiction- Weaponized MQ-1- Hellfire Training began Jun 02 Combat proven in Iraq Expanding Missions Close Air Support/Urban CSAR Force Protection
OIF Buddy Laze on Roland Sensor Information Aircraft Coords & Altitude Sensor Depression Laser Status Target Data
OIF Ministry of Information Hellfire Shot
OIF Al Samoud Hellfire Shot
Recent Operations
MQ-1 Battlefield Employment Fallujah Operation II Environment Nov 2004, night, clear sky Players USMC JTAC MQ-1 USMC F/A-18 / USAF AC-130 Mission Scenario JTAC calling in Air Strikes on insurgent Command & Control Facility CRE pushed MQ-1 to (JTAC) for CAS JTAC ROVER Equipped
Fallujah CAS MQ-1 On-station 15 minutes prior to F/A-18 ROVER provided god s eye view for JTAC JTAC directed MQ-1 EO/IR sensors for battlefield picture Increased JTAC situational SA with video feed Developed 9-Line & talk-on for CAS Big to small picture gathered
Fallujah CAS Direct Support to Fighter Assets IR Illumination of urban target for F/A-18 40 x 40 IR square on target Target acquisition time reduced JTAC passed 9-line F/A-18 employed 1xGBU-38 missed F/A-18 employed 1xGBU-12 dud Insurgents ran from building to another shelter MQ-1 followed and targeted squirters
Fallujah CAS Hellfire Employment MQ-1 employed AGM-114M into building Mission accomplished ACF left surrounding buildings MQ-1 followed squirters and fed video to AC-130 MQ-1 illuminates target JTAC called in AC-130 to engage with gun
Fallujah II - ACM
OIF Force Protection
Future Capes AGM-114P Completed OUE MQ-9 Predator B GBU-38/SAR
AGM-114P Expanded WEZ Increased WEZ Increased off boresight Increased range Increased altitude Quicker Reaction Time to Launch Weapon 45 sec reaction time Tailored trajectories Medium to Steep impact angles Improved lethality More agile and deadlier knife to the fight!
Predator B MQ-9 10,000 lb, 40 feet long, 66 ft wingspan Turbo-prop 250 KTAS, 50,000 ceiling, 24 hr endurance Payload 700 lb internal, 3,000 lb external Six Hard Points GBU-12, GBU-38, SDB, AIM-9X SAR MTI
MQ-9 GBU-12 Testing
MQ-1/9 Predator: reinvention of the Attack Reconnaissance Squadron
Questions?