A US Air Force Predator® B/MQ-9 Reaper® Unmanned Aerial Vehicle has logged a record 20,000 flight hours, demonstrating superior reliability ...
The milestone was achieved during a 17-hour combat mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan on December 23.
The aircraft flew its first flight on January 31, 2008 and has accumulated 1,355 flights, with almost 100-percent of those flights having been flown in direct support of Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO).
The multi-mission Predator B is a long-endurance, medium-high-altitude Remote Piloted Aircraft developed by General Atomics, that can be used for surveillance, military reconnaissance, and targeting missions.
The current aircraft configuration features an extensive payload capacity (850 lb/386 kg internally, 3,000 lb/1361 kg externally), with a maximum gross takeoff weight of 10,500 lb/4763 kg.
It is powered by a Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop engine, enabling to reach a maximum altitude of 50,000 feet/15240 meters, and can stay aloft for up to 27 hours.
The MQ-9 Reaper was developed from the MQ-1 Predator, featuring improved payload capacity, endurance and performance characteristics. It is equipped with a fault-tolerant flight control system and triple redundant avionics system architecture.
The standard payload configuration includes a high-definition, optical Infrared (IR) video system and a high-resolution ground imaging radar (SAR). The radar also has Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) and Maritime Wide-area Search (MWAS) modes.
Predator B is currently operational with the U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force, and French Air Force as MQ-9 Reaper, and with the Italian Air Force as MQ-9.
The aircraft provides unparalleled close air support and persistent situational awareness over land or sea to coalition forces, demonstrating proven NATO interoperability. Additionally, Predator B is in use by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and NASA.
Some 230 Predator B aircraft have amassed more than 942,000 flight hours since the RPA's first flight in 2001.
